[Paid] Autumn 2026 Internship at National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi (Stipend Rs 10,000/month for 6-Month Variant)

The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is among India's foremost think-tanks and the only Indian think-tank that concentrates solely upon the country's maritime domain. Working out of the NOM Varuna Complex on Airport Road in New Delhi, the Foundation brings together research, dialogue and policy insight across maritime security, the blue economy, international law of the sea, climate change, ports and shipping, and the wider Indo-Pacific.

The NMF has issued its Call for Applications for the Autumn-2026 Internship Programme. The internship is conducted entirely in the English language and entirely in physical format at the NMF's premises in New Delhi.

Applicants must specify the variant they are applying for. Seats on the programme are limited.

• AUTERN-2026: approximately three calendar months, from Monday, 21 September 2026 to Friday, 18 December 2026.
• AUTEX-2026: approximately six calendar months, from Monday, 21 September 2026 to Friday, 19 March 2027.

Both variants are conducted entirely in physical format at the NMF's premises in New Delhi, and interns are required to be present at the NMF on all working days for the full duration of the internship. Applicants to the six-month AUTEX-2026 variant are given priority during the selection process.

A stipend attaches only to the six-month AUTEX-2026 variant. Based entirely upon the performance of the interns, as assessed by the NMF at its sole discretion, a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 (Rupees Ten-Thousand Only) would be provided for three months. The stipend is payable at the end of each calendar month, commencing January 2027.

The Call for Applications states no stipend for the three-month AUTERN-2026 variant.

Applicants should note that the NMF is not in a position to provide boarding, lodging or transportation for its interns. The application form asks candidates to state their residential address in Delhi NCR for the duration of the internship.

Students currently pursuing their undergraduate studies will NOT be accepted for either of the two variants, except in cases governed by specific Memoranda of Understanding between the NMF and the external institution in question. Candidates pursuing internships at other organisations are not eligible for the NMF's internship programme.

Within each variant, priority for acceptance of applications is given in the following order of academic qualifications:

• Post-doctoral scholars (PhD holders)
• Doctoral (PhD) students
• Master's degree-holders
• Professional degree holders (for example LLB, BTech)
• Master's degree programme students
• Graduates

Candidates for the Autumn Internship Programme 2026 go through the following selection process:

• All aspirants are required to fill out the 'Call for Applications Form' set out in the Appendix to the official notification and submit it by the indicated deadline.
• Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, which may be conducted either online or offline. Only candidates who qualify at the interview stage will be selected for the internship.
• Upon completion of the interview phase, selected candidates will be notified and provided with additional details.

The NMF clarifies that selection for, participation in, or completion of the internship does not constitute an offer, assurance or guarantee of employment, consultancy, fellowship or any other paid engagement at the NMF. Interns who demonstrate exceptional research ability, writing skills, discipline, professionalism and initiative may, at the Foundation's discretion and subject to vacancies, be considered for future opportunities.

During the initial twelve weeks of the programme, all interns are compulsorily required to attend a three-month 'teaching capsule' comprising a series of daily interactive presentations and scenario-based case studies. The capsule is conducted by the Director-General, NMF, and by other experienced members of the NMF's own Research Faculty. Each interactive session runs for two to two-and-a-half hours and is held on all working days (Monday to Friday, other than closed holidays). As an exception rather than a rule, sessions may also be held on Saturdays, but in such cases they will not stretch beyond 1300 h.

On completion of the teaching capsule, AUTEX interns are attached to one or more members of the NMF Research Faculty and are required to produce:

• One or more book reviews and one or more critiques, of word-length between 800 and 1,200 words.
• One or more independent research articles, of word-length between 1,500 and 3,000 words, under the mentorship of the assigned supervisor.

Where the written work meets the NMF's quality criteria, it will be published under the name of the author. Interns are also exposed to and encouraged to participate in the NMF's engagements with partner institutions from within India and abroad, as well as with visiting international delegations.

Leave during the internship is strictly limited and may be availed only with the prior approval of the NMF. For each variant, a maximum of three working days of leave may be considered during the entire duration of the internship, and leave is not permitted on consecutive working days. No additional leave will be granted for examinations, academic commitments, personal engagements, travel or any other prior commitments. Candidates likely to have examinations or other commitments during the internship period are advised not to apply.

Certificates of completion are issued only upon successful completion of the full duration of the variant for which the intern has been selected, and are subject to satisfactory attendance, punctuality, conduct, compliance with NMF rules, and completion of all assigned deliverables. The NMF reserves the right to withhold the certificate in case of unsatisfactory conduct, repeated absence, non-compliance or failure to complete assigned work.

The NMF maintains a strict dress code. For gentlemen this entails closed formal shoes of polished leather, socks, formal trousers or slacks (no jeans), a full-sleeved shirt and a necktie or cravat, with neat and tidy grooming; a combination jacket or lounge suit is optional except on specified occasions. For ladies the dress code entails formal and professional office attire including sarees, churidar-kurta, formal kurtas with appropriate lowers, formal trousers or slacks with shirts or blouses, and formal jackets or blazers where appropriate. Jeans, casual T-shirts, short tops, sleeveless tops, transparent or revealing clothing, leggings worn as trousers, casual footwear, slippers and sports shoes are not permitted. Indicative pictorial guidance is offered on the NMF internships page.

Interns may have access to institutional material, internal discussions, event proceedings, draft publications and research inputs, and must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of such material. Any written work produced during the internship is subject to review and approval by the NMF before being submitted, circulated or published in any form.

Applications must be submitted only in the format set out in the Appendix to the official Call for Applications. Even candidates who have already sent an unsolicited application or a request for an internship must apply again, strictly in the prescribed format. No requests beyond this application will be entertained during the selection process.

• Email your completed application to Ms Chitali Kohli, Internship Coordinator, at progexecutive.nmf@gmail.com
• Mark a copy (CC) to directorgeneral.nmfindia@gmail.com, execdir.nmf@gmail.com, maritimeindia@gmail.com and indopac8.nmf@gmail.com
• Do not forget to specify the variant (AUTERN-2026 or AUTEX-2026) for which you are applying.
• Attach a scanned copy in PDF format of a recent colour passport-size photograph with a plain background.
• Complete all mandatory fields, including personal particulars, full academic details, why you wish to intern at the NMF, any specific area of maritime interest, additional skills, and the declaration at the end of the form.

The deadline for applications to reach the NMF (not the time at which the application is mailed) is 5 p.m. (1700 h) on Sunday, 02 August 2026. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.