**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 295, addressed on August 8, 2025, regarding the MEA's Internship Programme. The internship program utilizes an online application process via the publicly accessible portal https://internship.mea.gov.in. Selection is based on merit, with consideration given to gender and regional representation. Currently, the MEA does not have formal partnerships with educational institutions or district authorities to promote the program. The application process is state-wise. Since the program's inception, a total of 17 interns have been selected from Tamil Nadu. The district-wise distribution of these interns is as follows: Chennai (5), Chengalpattu (2), Salem (2), Coimbatore (1), Thoothukudi (1), Krishnagiri (1), Dindigul (1), Theni (1), Erode (1), Namakkal (1), and Kanyakumari (1).
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's foreign relations.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Internship Programme: An initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs to provide internship opportunities.
SHRI K E PRAKASH: The Member of Parliament who posed the question about the Internship Programme.
DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR: The Minister of External Affairs who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, specifically mentioned in relation to the district-wise distribution of interns.
Chennai district: A district in Tamil Nadu, India, with the highest number of interns selected.
https:internship.mea.gov.in: The online portal for the Ministry of External Affairs' Internship Programme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO - 295
ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME BY MEA
*295. SHRI K E PRAKASH
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Ministry has taken any measures to improve awareness
and accessibility of its Internship Programme, particularly in rural and
semi-urban areas across the country, if so, the details of outreach
methods adopted for the same;
(b) whether the Ministry has any partnerships with educational
institutions/district authorities in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
and
(c) the number of interns selected under the said Programme since its
inception, in Tamil Nadu, district-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) OF THE LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 295 FOR REPLY ON 08.08.2025
REGARDING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME BY MEA ASKED BY SHRI K E
PRAKASH
The Internship programme follows an online application process on
the internship portal (https://internship.mea.gov.in), and a selection
process based on merit and a consideration of gender and regional
representation. The portal is publicly accessible, and all aspirants need
to register on the portal to apply for the programme. No formal
partnerships with educational institutions/district authorities are
currently in place in this regard.
Applications are accepted State-wise. Upon examination of the
graduation certificates of the finally selected interns from Tamil Nadu,
the following data regarding the district-wise distribution of the
successful candidates from Tamil Nadu has been obtained as provided
below:
S. District of Tamil Nadu Number of interns
No.
1. Chennai district 5
2. Chengalpattu 2
3. Salem 2
4. Coimbatore 1
25. Thoothukudi 1
6. Krishnagiri 1
7. Dindigul 1
8. Theni 1
9. Erode 1
10. Nemakkal 1
11. Kanyakumari 1
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