A. Any student pursuing an undergraduate or post-graduate course in any field from any Indian university/college/technical educational institution who wants to study rural India and build their research capacity is eligible to apply.
 

A. No, the internship programme is open only to Indian applicants studying in an Indian educational institution.
 

A. No. The internship programme is designed only for students currently pursuing an undergraduate or post-graduate course.


 

A. The rural internship is essentially designed for students enrolled in a public university/college/technical educational institution. However, if you are enrolled in a private educational institution and belong to the Dalit, Adivasi, Tribal or any other minority community, your application may be considered
 

A. We accept applications only through the application form on the NFI website. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2024 (Tuesday), midnight.
 

A. Yes, you will receive a completion certificate from NFI after submission of the final research report.
 

A. Yes, you will receive a stipend of Rs. 20,000 on the successful completion of the internship, that is, after you submit the research report along with the supporting documents such as bills and receipts from your field visit.
 

A. The in-person induction workshop for the internship is held in May 2024 in Delhi. Interns will be expected to leave for the field directly after this. The final schedule will be prepared based on the university calendars and availability of selected interns. You are requested to provide the tentative dates for your summer break in the application form.
 

A. Yes, it is mandatory to attend the induction workshop. The internship programme focuses on promoting rigorous academic scholarship among university students towards the Indian rural economy and agriculture, and sensitising them to the challenges faced by the affected communities. Hence, it is necessary to hold a rational, scientific and research-oriented approach during the fieldwork, which will be covered meticulously during the induction process. The induction will consist of sessions on key research areas, research methodology and report writing. Absence from the workshop will be considered a dropout from the programme.
 

A. The research topic proposed by you in the application form will be developed and sharpened by you under the guidance of academic mentors depending on the field area you are placed in. Your research topic and questions may be modified in this process and will be finalised during the residential induction workshop in Delhi.
 

A. Placement of interns will be decided by NFI. This will be based on the research topic of the intern, the area of expertise and the intake capacity of the host organisation in the selected states.
 

A. NFI will make all necessary travel and accommodation arrangements during the internship. NFI will also cover the expenses of the same. All the travel arrangements will be made on 3AC trains. Travel by air or higher class of train will not be reimbursed. Hence, it is mandatory to provide the travel details as and when sought.
 

A. No. The duration of the internship is a well-planned, integral part of the programme. The one month of field exposure will provide you with the basic knowledge and the time to collect credible data required to develop your research report. A commitment for the entire duration is a must to qualify for the application process and to be eligible for the internship programme
 

A. No. Once you have been selected and placed with a host organisation, you will be required to complete the entire duration of the fieldwork in one go. If you do not complete, it will be considered a dropout.
 

A. The host organisation will facilitate your research visit and will support you throughout the study. They will be the key link between NFI and you. The host organisation will also facilitate your exposure in the field and to the major challenges in their respective rural geographies and social structure.
 

A. The deadline for the submission of the report will be 15 days from the day of your return from the field.
 

A. We will start processing your stipend only after the submission of the research report at the end of the internship. Your stipend will be credited to the bank account under your name once all your bills and receipts have been processed and verified by NFI.