DRDO SSPL Internship 2026 Notification: Stipend, Eligibility and Full Application Guide
If you are in your final year of engineering or post-graduation and dream of working inside a real defence research laboratory, this is your moment. The Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), a premier lab of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has invited applications for a 6-month paid internship with 65 internship slots at its Delhi campus. Selected interns receive a stipend of ₹5,000 per month. For students who follow defence sector opportunities closely, an SSPL internship is one of the strongest lines you can add to your resume.
The internship is expected to begin around December 2026 or January 2027, and completed applications must reach SSPL by 30 September 2026. Only final-year (last semester) students of B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc./M.Tech in the notified streams can apply, and there is no application fee. In this article we have explained the slots, streams, stipend rules, documents and the exact step-by-step process. Read it fully so you do not miss a single requirement — GovtJobsAlert.in brings you every detail in one place.
Key Highlights of DRDO SSPL Paid Internship 2026
Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) is a DRDO laboratory based in Timarpur, Delhi, working on advanced semiconductor materials and devices. Its research covers compound semiconductors, MEMS, MMICs, acoustic sensor systems, laser diodes, IR sensors and nanotechnology. An internship here means working alongside scientists on real defence technology problems — the kind of exposure a classroom simply cannot give. This is a paid internship, not a job, and completing it does not guarantee employment at DRDO.
- Internship Name: Paid Internship (6 Months) at SSPL, DRDO
- Total Internship Slots: 65
- Monthly Stipend: ₹5,000 per month (fixed)
- Duration: 6 months
- Eligibility: Final-year (last semester) students of B.E./B.Tech or M.Sc./M.Tech
- Place of Work: Delhi
- Last Date to Apply: 30 September 2026
DRDO SSPL Internship 2026 Vacancy Breakdown: Slots and Streams
The notification offers all 65 internship slots under a single common entry, open across eight research streams. There is no separate slot count for each stream, and no category-wise reservation split has been published. SSPL has also stated that the number of internships may vary depending on the laboratory’s requirement, so treat 65 as the notified figure.
| Internship | Streams / Disciplines | Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Paid Internship (6 Months) | Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Electrical, Material Science, Quantum Technology, Laser Optics, Semiconductor Device | 65 |
What is the Eligibility Criteria for DRDO SSPL Internship 2026?
Read this section slowly, because the notification sets a narrow eligibility window.
Educational Qualification
- B.E. / B.Tech (ongoing) in a relevant discipline, or
- M.Sc. / M.Tech (ongoing) in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification
- Only final-year students — that is, students currently in their last semester — are eligible
The relevant disciplines notified are:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Electronics
- Electrical
- Material Science
- Quantum Technology
- Laser Optics
- Semiconductor Device
If you are an engineering final-year student, you can also explore more engineering government job openings alongside this internship. Students finishing a master’s degree can check the latest post graduate government jobs too.
Age Limit
The notification does not prescribe any minimum or maximum age limit for this internship. The application form only asks you to write your date of birth and present age, so no age relaxation table applies here.
Documents Required
- Recent passport size photograph, affixed on the form
- Character Certificate
- Recommendation letter / NOC from your institute on institute letterhead, clearly mentioning the internship start date
- Proof of permanent address — the application form requires the permanent address to be supported by proof
- Self-attested photocopies of all relevant certificates and mark sheets
What is the Stipend and Salary Support for DRDO SSPL Internship 2026?
SSPL has stated the stipend figure clearly, and it is worth understanding exactly how the money reaches you, because the payment is not monthly in practice.
- Monthly Stipend: ₹5,000 per month (fixed)
- Total stipend for 6 months: ₹30,000
- Payment mode: Electronic transfer, in two equal instalments
- First instalment: ₹15,000 after completing 3 months
- Second instalment: ₹15,000 after completing 6 months
- Attendance rule: Minimum 15 days attendance in a month is required for that month to count as regular
Only candidates offered the full 6-month internship are eligible to receive the stipend. Under the wider DRDO scheme the internship period can range from 4 weeks to 6 months, but shorter internships do not carry a stipend.
One important point to plan for: all other expenses — lodging, boarding, transport and medical — must be borne by you. There is no provision for a stipend beyond 6 months.
What is the Selection Process for DRDO SSPL Internship 2026?
The selection is simple and document-driven. There is no written examination.
Stage 1: Screening of Applications
SSPL screens every application received by post. Your filled form, education details, character certificate and institute recommendation letter or NOC are checked against the eligibility conditions. Make sure the form is complete and every listed document is attached before you post it.
Stage 2: Interview-based Selection
Shortlisted candidates are selected through an interview. The notification describes the process simply as screening/interview-based selection, so prepare to talk about your final-year project, your core subject strengths and why SSPL’s research area interests you.
Stage 3: Reporting and Compliance
Selected interns must follow the laboratory’s rules. Interns are bound by the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923, are given access only to non-classified areas, and must not publish any DRDO-related restricted information anywhere. An undertaking is taken for this. Any breach can end the internship without notice.
Internship Terms You Must Accept
- No leave except sick leave, and only on production of valid prescriptions. Gazetted and closed holidays applicable in the laboratory will apply to you as well
- Working hours follow the laboratory’s timings, and attendance is marked as per the lab’s process
- Interns must handle DRDO equipment carefully — you are liable to compensate DRDO for any damage or degradation of equipment
- DRDO is not responsible for any injuries sustained during the internship period
How to Apply for DRDO SSPL Internship 2026 by Post: Step-by-Step Guide
Important: this internship does not have an online application form. Applications are accepted offline, by post only. Before you begin, keep your mark sheets, character certificate, institute NOC and a passport size photograph ready.
- Download and print the application form, which is the last page of the official notification PDF (link in Essential Links below).
- Fill in all details in block letters — post applied for, name, father’s/husband’s name, date of birth and present age, correspondence and permanent address, e-mail and category.
- Complete the education qualification table with your institute name, passing year, maximum marks, marks obtained and percentage.
- Affix a recent passport size photograph in the space provided on the form.
- Attach your Character Certificate, the institute recommendation letter or NOC mentioning the internship start date, proof of permanent address, and self-attested copies of all documents.
- Sign and date the form at the bottom, and write your name and address as required.
- Send the complete hard copy by post to the Director, SSPL (Kind Attention: HRD), SSPL, DRDO, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi – 110054, so that it reaches on or before 30 September 2026.
- Note that the notification also asks candidates to apply through their institute, which should correspond with the concerned DRDO laboratory.
Students based in the capital can also track other Delhi government job notifications while their application is under process.
DRDO SSPL Internship 2026 Important Dates: Complete Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 29 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Receive Application by Post | 30 September 2026 |
| Internship Start (tentative) | December 2026 / January 2027 |
Please note the last date is the date your envelope must reach SSPL, not the date you post it. Send it at least a week in advance.
Is There Any Application Fee for DRDO SSPL Internship 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Categories | No Fee |
The notification does not mention any application fee, challan, demand draft or payment mode anywhere. Since the form is submitted offline by post with no payment mechanism described, no fee is payable.
Essential Links for DRDO SSPL Paid Internship 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply for DRDO SSPL Paid Internship 2026
- Visit DRDO Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram for Delhi Government Jobs
A DRDO internship on your resume speaks for itself, and with 65 slots open this year your chances are real. If you are in your last semester and your stream matches, do not wait — start arranging your institute NOC and character certificate now, since both have to come from your college. Your application must reach SSPL by 30 September 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more defence and DRDO job updates like this one.