CVRDE Avadi Internship for Engineering Students: ₹5,000 Stipend and Branch-wise Seats
Good news for engineering students. The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), a DRDO laboratory in Avadi, Chennai, has opened 35 paid internship seats for 2026-27. Selected students will spend six months inside the lab that designs armoured fighting vehicles for India’s armed forces, with a stipend of ₹5,000 per month. This is training, not a job, and completing it gives no claim to employment; for regular posts, see engineering government jobs.
Two things make this notification different. Applications go only by Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post, and they must reach CVRDE by 18 September 2026. The academic bar is also high: 85% marks or 8.5 CGPA, a CGPA of at least 8.5 across previous semesters, and no backlogs. Read every section before you print the form. Here on GovtJobsAlert.in we have laid out the seats, the papers your college must sign, and the conditions that get applications rejected.
Key Highlights of DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026
CVRDE works on turret and weapon systems, chassis and automotive systems, powerpack technology (engine and transmission), running gear, vehicle electricals, and electronics and communication for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The internship seats are offered in four engineering branches only.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), DRDO, Ministry of Defence |
| Advertisement No. | CVRDE/HRD/PAID INTERNSHIP/2026 |
| Scheme | Paid Internship Scheme of DRDO, academic year 2026-27 |
| Total Seats | 35 (UG 15 and PG 20) |
| Who Can Apply | Regular, full-time B.E / B.Tech (7th or 8th semester) or M.E / M.Tech (1st or 2nd year) students of AICTE / UGC approved institutions who meet the CGPA, no-backlog, no-other-stipend, age and nationality rules below |
| Branches | Mechanical (ME), Electronics group (EC), Electrical (EE), Computer Science group (CS); see seat table |
| Stipend | ₹5,000 per month |
| Duration | 06 months |
| Location | CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
| Mode of Application | Offline only: Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post |
| Application Fee | Nil |
| Last Date (receipt at CVRDE) | 18 September 2026 |
| Selection | Entirely on merit; shortlisted students informed by email |
The internship is based at Avadi in Chennai. For other openings in the same state, see our list of government jobs in Tamil Nadu.
How Many Seats Are in DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026? Branch-wise Vacancy Details
Seats are fixed branch by branch and level by level, so find your own row before anything else.
| Branch (Code) | UG: B.E / B.Tech (7th or 8th Sem) | PG: M.E / M.Tech (1st or 2nd Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 07 | 12 |
| Electronics, Electronics & Communication, or Electronic & Instrumentation Engineering (EC) | 05 | 05 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 02 | 02 |
| Computer Science Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Information Technology (CS) | 01 | 01 |
| All four branches | 15 | 20 |
Mechanical students have the widest opening, especially at PG level. The CS group (CSE, AI, ML and IT together) has just one seat at each level, so competition there will be sharp. The notification states that these numbers are indicative and may increase or decrease at the absolute discretion of the establishment. It gives no category-wise split of the seats. Write your Branch Code (ME, EC, EE or CS) exactly as the notification lists it, both on the form and on the envelope.
What is the Eligibility for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
Educational Qualification and Academic Record
| Requirement | What the Notification Says |
|---|---|
| Course | Regular, full-time B.E / B.Tech (7th or 8th semester) or M.E / M.Tech (1st or 2nd year) in the respective discipline |
| Institution | Recognised Indian University / Institute; only regular students of AICTE approved technical institutions or UGC approved universities are eligible |
| Marks | 85% marks or more, or 8.5 CGPA or more on a scale of 10 |
| Semester Record | Minimum 8.5 CGPA or above, continuously maintained throughout previous semesters (the Hindi text reads: an average of at least 8.5 CGPA in all previous semesters) |
| Backlogs | Students with backlogs are not eligible |
| Other Stipend | Students in receipt of any other stipend etc. from any institute are not eligible |
| Related Branch | No equivalent qualifications or related branch will be considered |
| Nationality | Scheme open to students of Indian nationality only |
Pay close attention to the related-branch rule. No equivalent qualification or related branch will be considered, so if your degree name is not one of the disciplines in the seat table, this internship is not open to you, even if your branch feels close. The semester rule matters just as much. Appendix B asks your college to fill in marks semester by semester, so check your full record, not only your latest CGPA. M.E / M.Tech students can browse more post graduate government jobs alongside this one.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| All students (UG and PG) | Below 28 years as on 1 July 2026 |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and check whether you are within the age limit. →
The notification does not mention any age relaxation for any category, so read “below 28” as a firm line. Most final-year B.Tech students are well inside it, but M.Tech students who worked for a few years before their PG should confirm their exact age on 1 July 2026 before applying.
What is the Stipend (Salary) for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
This is an internship, so instead of a salary you receive a fixed stipend. Here is exactly what the notification promises and what it expects in return.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monthly Stipend | ₹5,000 per month for six months |
| Payment Schedule | Two slabs of ₹15,000, each covering 3 months |
| Payment Mode | Credited directly into the student’s bank account |
| Attendance Condition | At least 20 working days per month of internship training at CVRDE |
| Academic Condition | Good academic performance |
| Boarding, Lodging, Transport | Not admissible; students make their own arrangements |
| Canteen | CVRDE Wet Canteen for lunch and tea, on payment basis |
| Completion | Certificate of completion on successful completion; project report on assigned work expected |
Be practical about this. No boarding or lodging expenses are admissible, so if you live outside Chennai, budget for your own room and daily travel to Avadi. Also remember that the stipend and the completion certificate will not be awarded to a student who is unable to complete the internship for any reason. Apply only if your college calendar genuinely lets you stay the full six months.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
| Stage | What the Notification Says |
|---|---|
| Selection Basis | Entirely on merit |
| Intimation | Shortlisted students are informed through their email IDs, along with joining instructions |
| Candidates Not Selected | No communication will be entertained from candidates who are not selected (the Hindi version of this sentence reads: no correspondence will be made with them) |
The notification does not publish a merit formula. What it asks you to send is your semester marksheets, your CGPA, a biodata of up to 300 words, and proof of any awards, publications or patents, so make that set complete and neat. The management reserves the right to change the vacancy positions or selection criteria at any point during the selection process without assigning any reason. Because shortlisted students are told by email, write an email ID you check every day and watch your spam folder.
What are the Rejection and Joining Conditions for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
These are the lines students skip, and each one can end an application or an internship.
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Late Applications | Applications reaching CVRDE after the last date will be summarily rejected |
| Incomplete or Erroneous Applications | Summarily rejected; no communication in this regard will be entertained |
| Related Branch | No equivalent qualifications or related branch will be considered |
| Backlogs | Students with backlogs are not eligible |
| Another Stipend | Students in receipt of any other stipend etc. from any institute are not eligible |
| Incorrect Information | If information in your form is found to be incorrect, your candidature may be cancelled |
| Leaving Midway | Certificate of completion and stipend will not be awarded if you cannot complete the internship for any reason |
| At Joining | Police verification, plus a medical fitness certificate from an authorized medical practitioner holding at least an MBBS or BAMS degree |
| No Job Guarantee | CVRDE / DRDO has no obligation to offer employment, and an intern cannot claim a right to employment on completing this internship |
| Official Secrets | Signed undertaking under the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Appendix C) |
How to Apply Offline for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
Applications are received only by Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post. Follow these steps in order.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the notification and application form PDF (link in Essential Links). The form is Appendix A, the college letter is Appendix B and the undertaking is Appendix C |
| 2 | Fill Appendix A in CAPITAL LETTERS, affix a recent passport-size photo (4.5 x 3.5 cm), and enter your own bank account details and email ID carefully |
| 3 | Get Appendix B printed on your college letterhead and signed by the Principal / Director with office seal |
| 4 | Fill and sign Appendix C, the undertaking under the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923 |
| 5 | Attach every document in the checklist below |
| 6 | On top of the envelope, write “Application for Paid internship” and your Branch Code |
| 7 | Send it by Speed Post, Courier or Registered Post so that it reaches CVRDE by 18 September 2026 |
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Application form (Appendix A) | With recent passport-size photograph |
| Request letter / No Objection Certificate (Appendix B) | From the Principal / Director of your institute |
| Undertaking Form (Appendix C) | Duly filled and signed |
| All semester marksheets | Copies, as applicable |
| Bonafide and Character Certificate | Issued by college authorities |
| Aadhaar Card | Copy |
| College ID card | Copy |
| Student biodata | Restricted to 300 words |
| Awards / Certificates | If any, with proof |
| Publications / Patents | If any, with proof |
| Address Line | Detail |
|---|---|
| Addressed To | The Director (Kind Attention: PC&HR Division) |
| Establishment | Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Defence, Defence Research & Development Organisation |
| City | Avadi, Chennai – 600054 |
Appendix B is the step most likely to slow you down. Your college has to fill in your semester-wise marks, faculty coordinator details and its AICTE / UGC codes, and confirm that you will be physically present at CVRDE for at least 20 working days a month and are not receiving any other stipend. Appendix A says the college letter must be mandatorily attached, so ask your department for it on the very first day.
What is the Last Date for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026? Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Accepted From | Date of publication on the DRDO website |
| Last Date for Application to Reach CVRDE | 18 September 2026 |
| Age Reckoned As On | 1 July 2026 |
| Internship Duration | 06 months, academic year 2026-27 |
The PDF itself does not print a calendar date. It fixes the deadline as 10 days from the date of publication on the DRDO website, which puts it at 18 September 2026 for this advertisement. This is a receipt deadline, not a posting deadline. Post your envelope several days early, keep the tracking receipt, and do not count on a courier covering a long distance overnight.
Is There Any Application Fee for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All students | Nil |
The notification states that no fee is applicable during application or at any stage of the internship programme. Applying costs only printing, photocopies and postage, so be wary of anyone who asks for money to “process” a DRDO internship application.
Essential Links for DRDO CVRDE Paid Internship 2026
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | Download Notification PDF |
| Offline Application Form (Appendix A, B, C) | Download Application Form PDF |
| Official Website | Visit DRDO Official Website |
| Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs | |
| Telegram | Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs |
If you meet every condition above, including branch, CGPA, backlogs, age and other stipends, this is a real chance to spend six months inside a DRDO laboratory while still a student. Start with the college letter today, because that is the one part you do not control. Then post the complete set early so it reaches CVRDE by 18 September 2026. For more defence jobs and DRDO updates, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in.