What the notice says
NHRC winter internship 2026 is the four-week in-person Winter Internship Programme announced by the National Human Rights Commission on 1 October 2026 (No. T-14/1/2023-Trg). It runs from 14 December 2026 (Monday) to 8 January 2027 (Friday). Last date to submit the online form is 15 October 2026, 18:00 hours. Apply only through the Winter Internship 2026 link on nhrc.nic.in. The announcement PDF is on the NHRC flipbook: nhrc.nic.in winter internship PDF.
- What the National Human Rights Commission actually does
- What kind of seat this is
- Who should apply — and who should skip
- Dates and fee
- Available positions
- 1. Winter intern — NHRC New Delhi 100 seats, plus 20 Delhi/NCR waitlist
- Educational qualifications
- Selection
- How to prepare (free, official)
- How to apply without getting played
- FAQs
What the National Human Rights Commission actually does
NHRC is a statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Section 12(h) asks it to spread awareness on human rights. The winter and summer internships have run since 1998 and 2000. The office students report to is Manav Adhikar Bhawan, C-Block, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi 110023.
This is not a court clerkship and not a job offer. You sit in classroom sessions, do a research project, write a book review, and go on field visits. A certificate depends on punctuality, discipline, and on-time project work.
What kind of seat this is
Full-time, in person, New Delhi, about four weeks. The notice says about 55 to 60 sessions. Field visits listed include a police station, jail, NGOs, Parliament House, National Commission for Women, minority and SC/ST commissions, National Green Tribunal, NALSA, NCPCR, and the Supreme Court of India. Leave is not entertained. You arrange your own stay and local travel. NHRC gives a kit, a temporary ID, library and internet, tea and snacks twice a day, and lunch on working days. Field-visit days get a packed lunch.
Who should apply — and who should skip
Apply if you are in a regular UGC-recognised course and you match one of these lines: you have finished the first year of a 3-year LL.B. and are in the second or third year; you have finished three years or Semester VI of a 5-year integrated law course and are in the fourth or fifth year; you are in an LLM; or you are in a listed postgraduate course (PG Diploma or MA in Human Rights, Political Science, Sociology, MSW, Criminology, Public Administration, Rural Development, History, Economics, Commerce, Anthropology, Mass Communication, International Relations, or another social science), with preference to final year. You also need at least 60 percent in Class XII and in each of the first six semesters of graduation or the five-year course, and you must not be older than 28 on 1 October 2026.
Skip if you already attended a regular one-month NHRC winter or summer internship, if you are on a distance course, if any of those six semester marks are below 60 percent, if you cannot be in Delhi from 14 December with zero leave, or if a website asks you to pay a fee for an NHRC seat. Email and post applications are rejected.
Dates and fee
| Item | On the official notice |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | 1 October 2026 |
| Apply close | 15 October 2026, 18:00 hours |
| Programme | 14 December 2026 to 8 January 2027 |
| Fee | No application fee is printed |
| Stipend | ₹12,000 after successful completion |
| Travel | Outstation interns: Sleeper AC 3 Tier to New Delhi and back by the shortest route, from the place of study |
Available positions
1. Winter intern — NHRC New Delhi 100 seats, plus 20 Delhi/NCR waitlist
Eligibility criteria
Completed 1st year and pursuing 2nd or 3rd year of a 3-year LL.B.; or completed 3 years or Semester VI of a 5-year BA LL.B./BBA LL.B. and pursuing 4th or 5th year; or pursuing LLM; or PG Diploma in Human Rights, MA in Human Rights, or PG in Political Science, Sociology, Social Work (MSW), Criminology, Public Administration, Rural Development, History, Economics, Commerce, Anthropology, Mass Communication, International Relations, or another social science, with preference to final year. Regular course of a UGC-recognised university only. Minimum 60 percent in Class XII and in each of the first six semesters of graduation or the five-year course. Age not more than 28 as on 1 October 2026. Letter of Recommendation from Principal, HOD or Dean in Annex-I, dated after this advertisement and for the course you are in now. A 250-word write-up on “Reason for joining as Intern in NHRC” is the statement of purpose. Students with earlier one-month NHRC winter or summer internship cannot apply.
No category-wise vacancy table is printed. Reservation follows extant Government of India guidelines for SC, ST, OBC and PwD. Attach a self-attested caste or disability certificate if it applies. If a reserved category does not get enough applications, NHRC may select from the general category. The notice also says it will try to represent States and Union Territories, subject to applications and merit.
Total seats printed — 100, with a waitlist of 20 from Delhi and NCR. A waitlisted student can be called only up to the second day if someone drops out.
Educational qualifications
| Route | Degree line | Marks and extras |
|---|---|---|
| 3-year LL.B. | Completed 1st year; now in 2nd or 3rd year | 60% in Class XII and each of first 6 graduation semesters; LOR; 250-word SOP |
| 5-year integrated law | Completed 3 years or Semester VI; now in 4th or 5th year | Same marks rule, LOR and SOP |
| LLM | Pursuing LLM | Same marks rule on Class XII and first 6 graduation semesters |
| Listed PG | Human rights, social sciences and related PG named in the notice | Preference to final year |
Selection
- Online form only, on the Winter Internship 2026 link at nhrc.nic.in.
- Merit out of 100: Class XII 30 marks, graduation 40 marks, 250-word write-up 30 marks. Research potential in human rights, as shown in the write-up, is preferred.
- Scanned attested mark-sheets of Class X, Class XII and each of the first six semesters are mandatory. Missing LOR, SOP or mark-sheets means rejection.
- Do not use Mr, Mrs, Ms or other prefixes in the form. A marks or CGPA mismatch can get the form rejected and bar you from later NHRC programmes.
- Final list is displayed on the NHRC website. Registration is on the arrival date.
How to prepare (free, official)
- WIP 2026 announcement PDF, including Annex-I recommendation letter
- NHRC internship programmes page
- Read Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, on the India Code site, before you write the 250 words
How to apply without getting played
- Open only nhrc.nic.in and the Winter Internship 2026 form. Ignore lookalike domains and Telegram “slots”.
- Upload attested scans of Class X, Class XII and all six semester mark-sheets, the SOP, and a recommendation dated after 1 October 2026.
- Submit before 15 October 2026, 18:00. No email or post copy is accepted after that.
- Save the acknowledgement. Queries: internships.nhrc@gov.in or 011-24663371, 10:00 to 18:00 on Monday to Friday. Technical issues: 011-24663294.
Prize money on the notice, separate from the stipend: ₹15,000, ₹10,000 and ₹5,000 for first, second and third in the group research project. Top five book reviews and top three in the declamation or module contests get books priced not higher than ₹1,000 each. No stipend if you do not successfully complete the programme.
FAQs
What is the last date?
15 October 2026, 18:00 hours. Nothing after that is accepted.
Who can apply?
Law students in the years listed above, LLM students, and the named postgraduate courses, from a regular UGC university, with 60 percent in Class XII and each of the first six graduation semesters, age not over 28 on 1 October 2026.
How many seats?
Maximum 100, plus a waitlist of 20 from Delhi and NCR.
Where do I apply?
nhrc.nic.in, Winter Internship 2026 link only.
What is the fee?
No fee is printed. Stipend is ₹12,000 after you finish. Stay is on you.
Can first-year students apply?
No for the 3-year LL.B. You must have completed the first year. For the 5-year course you must have completed three years or Semester VI.
More government internship notes are on the AAG Legal internships board.