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

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

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

A.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 given on the NFI website. The deadline for applications is 20 February 2026 (Friday) at midnight. No applications will be considered beyond that.
 

A. Yes, you will receive an experience certificate from NFI along with the stipend on the completion and 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 stay in the field. Please note, NFI will not bear any other costs including miscellaneous expenses and the cost of day-to-day utilities..
 

A. The tentative timeline for the in-person induction workshop of the internship is in May/June 2026, in Delhi. Interns will leave for the field directly from the induction program. The final schedule will be prepared based on the university calendars and availability of selected interns. You are asked to give the estimated dates of your university’s summer break in the form.
 

A. Yes, it is mandatory to attend the induction workshop. The internship program focuses on promoting rigorous academic scholarship among university students towards the Indian agricultural and rural economy and sensitising them to the challenges faced by rural communities in the country. 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.
 

A. The decision regarding placements of interns will be made by NFI based on the research topics of the interns, the area of expertise of the host organisation, 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. Please note, NFI will not bear any other costs including miscellaneous expenses and the cost of day-to-day utilities during the induction workshop and field work.
 

A. No. Once you have been selected and placed with an NGO, you will be required to complete the entire duration of the fieldwork in one go.
 

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. 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 to the working areas and major challenges in their respective rural geographies and associated villages.
 

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 as per the approval of your academic mentor and NFI’s internship team, 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 at our end. You will be asked to provide us with your bank account details once selected.