Ministry of Finance Internship 2026 — Department of Expenditure & Department of Revenue: Eligibility, ₹10,000 Stipend & Complete Application Guide

Priya Menon, a second-year MA Economics student from Jawaharlal Nehru University, had been looking for a government internship for six months. She had applied to think tanks. She had applied to state government departments. Nothing came through.

Then her thesis supervisor mentioned the Department of Expenditure internship. “Ministry of Finance,” he said. “They take students directly. Not many people apply because not many people know it exists.”

Priya searched online. She found four different pages with different information — one said the stipend was ₹5,000, another said ₹10,000, one had a 2024 form still linked, and one didn’t mention the Department of Revenue programme at all.

She almost gave up. Then she found the official guidelines buried in a PDF on the Ministry of Finance website, read everything carefully, put together her application in two days, sent it to the Section Officer’s email address, and got a reply in three weeks.

She spent four months at North Block working with a Director-level officer on GST reform analysis. Her research contributed to a policy note that went to the Finance Secretary.

Most students who are eligible for this internship don’t apply — not because they aren’t qualified, but because the information is scattered, there are two separate departments offering it under the same Ministry roof, and most Google results mix them up. This guide separates everything clearly.

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Quick Answer

💡 Quick Answer — Ministry of Finance Internship 2026 Two departments offer internships: → Department of Expenditure — Economics/Finance/Law/Management students | ₹10,000/month | 2–6 months → Department of Revenue (State Taxes) — Law students from NLUs/IITs, CA (PE-II cleared) | ₹5,000/month | up to 6 months Location: North Block, New Delhi (in-person, full-time) Application mode: Offline — email CV + application form to designated Section Officer Key document: 500-word write-up explaining why this internship is relevant to your goals Contact (Expenditure): Room No. 264-B, North Block | [email protected] Contact (Revenue/GST): Room No. 259-B, North Block | [email protected] | 011-23095376 Stipend payment: After completion + submission of report/paper Certificate: Issued after satisfactory report evaluation

Last Verified: June 2026

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Department of Expenditure vs Department of Revenue Internship — What Is the Difference?

This is the confusion that sends most applicants to the wrong contact or causes them to apply with the wrong documents.

Both internships are under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, at North Block, New Delhi. But they are run by two different departments, target different student profiles, and have different stipend structures.

Simple test — which one to apply for:

1. Are you an Economics, Finance, or Management PG/research student? → Department of Expenditure
2. Are you a 4th or 5th year student at an NLU, or an IIT student, or have cleared CA PE-II? → Department of Revenue (State Taxes)
3. Are you both — dual degree or interdisciplinary? → Apply to both separately with tailored write-ups

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What Is the Ministry of Finance Internship? Entity Overview for 2026

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) internship programmes are structured academic engagement opportunities run by two departments under the Ministry:

Department of Expenditure (DoE): <cite index=”165-1″>The Internship Programme of the Department of Expenditure aims to familiarize willing and eligible undergraduates pursuing five-year integrated courses and graduates pursuing post-graduation or research with the overall process of formulation of economic policies of the Government.</cite>

Department of Revenue — State Taxes Section: <cite index=”168-1″>This prestigious programme offers young scholars an opportunity to closely engage with India’s tax reform process, especially the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework. The internship is designed to build interaction between government officers and academically strong students, enabling critical policy analysis while providing interns real exposure to national-level tax reform.</cite>

These are not mass-recruitment internship drives like PM Internship Scheme or NITI Aayog’s large cohort programmes. They are small, selective, direct-placement internships where you work one-on-one with a Director or Deputy Secretary level officer on live policy assignments.

What makes this different from other government internships:

• You are attached to a specific officer — not placed in a general pool
• Your work goes into real policy notes and research inputs — not training exercises
• The certificate comes from the Ministry of Finance, Government of India — one of the highest-value government internship certificates for careers in civil services, public policy, development finance, and law
• <cite index=”165-1″>The internship is neither a job nor any such assurance for a job in the Department of Expenditure</cite> — but the experience and reference letter carry significant weight for UPSC, MBA, and international programme applications

Three things to know in 2026:

1. No online application portal — both internships require offline applications sent to specific email addresses or physical addresses. There is no Apply Online button anywhere
2. Declaration of Secrecy is mandatory — <cite index=”165-1″>interns will be required to furnish to the Department a declaration of secrecy before reporting for the internship</cite> — you will work with non-public policy material
3. Stipend is post-completion — <cite index=”165-1″>token remuneration of ₹10,000 per month per intern is payable on satisfactory completion of their internships and on submission of their Report/Paper</cite> — plan your finances accordingly

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Deep Dive: Department of Expenditure Internship — Full Details

Eligibility — Who Can Apply

<cite index=”165-1″>Indian nationals pursuing postgraduation research courses in Economics/Finance/Management and in the 4th and 5th year of 5-year integrated courses in Law or any other professional course from universities or institutions of national and international repute are eligible to apply.</cite>

Specific conditions:

• PG students: Must have obtained a first-class graduate degree (60% or above)
• Research scholars in Economics/Finance/Management: Must have obtained at least 50% marks in post-graduation
• 5-year integrated Law students: Must be in the 4th or 5th year and must have obtained at least 80% in Class 12

Eligible institutions include IITs, IIMs, NLUs, Delhi School of Economics, JNU, IGIDR, and other universities of national/international repute. The Ministry does not publish a closed list — strong academic background from a recognised university is the primary criterion.

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What You Will Work On

<cite index=”165-1″>The interns would be attached with one of the DS/Director level officers in the different Divisions of the Department of Expenditure.</cite>

Work areas include:

• Public expenditure analysis and budgetary research
• Economic policy drafting and review
• Finance Commission-related research
• Financial sector regulatory studies
• Public debt and fiscal consolidation analysis

The specific assignment depends on: the officer you are attached to, the Division’s current workload, and your stated areas of interest in the application.

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Logistics Support

<cite index=”165-1″>Interns will be provided with the necessary logistics support — office space and a computer with internet facility.</cite>

The internship is full-time, in-person at North Block, New Delhi. Remote or hybrid is not available. You are responsible for your own accommodation and travel to Delhi.

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Stipend and Certificate

• Stipend: ₹10,000 per month — paid after completion
• Duration: 2 to 6 months — depends on your availability and the Division’s requirement
• <cite index=”165-1″>Certificates will be issued to the interns on satisfactory completion of their internship and on submission of their Report/Paper and its evaluation by the DS/Director level officer in the concerned Division</cite>

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Deep Dive: Department of Revenue Internship — Full Details

Eligibility — Who Can Apply

<cite index=”168-1″>The Department of Revenue internship targets a specific group:</cite>

Key restriction: The NLU eligibility is limited to four specific NLUs — Bangalore (NLSIU), Bhopal (NLIU), Hyderabad (NALSAR), and Kolkata (NUJS). Students from other NLUs or private law schools must check with the department directly.

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What You Will Work On

<cite index=”168-1″>The programme aims to support preparatory work for GST reforms, bring academic insights into policymaking, and train students in the real process of fiscal reforms.</cite>

Work areas:

• GST framework analysis and reform research
• State Taxes policy drafting
• Comparative tax law studies
• Legal research on tax compliance issues
• Analysis of tax tribunal decisions and their policy implications

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Stipend and Certificate

• Stipend: ₹5,000 per month (token remuneration)
• Duration: Up to 6 months
• Certificate: Issued after satisfactory report submission and evaluation

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How to Apply — Step by Step (Both Departments)

For Department of Expenditure Internship

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility — Check that you meet the degree, marks, and institution criteria. Your Class 12 marks (80%+) matter only for 5-year Law students. For PG/research students, your undergraduate first-class degree is the primary filter.

Step 2: Prepare your application package — You need:

• Completed application form (download from Ministry of Finance / Department of Expenditure official website or request via email)
• Your updated CV — academic achievements, research experience, publications if any
• <cite index=”165-1″>A 500-word write-up, signed by the applicant, explaining why they consider this internship useful and how it aligns with their career goals</cite>
• Passport-sized photograph

Step 3: Get institutional authentication — Your application form must carry the signature and seal of an authorised official from your university or institution, along with the institution’s full address and contact number. This is mandatory — unauthenticated applications are not considered.

Step 4: Decide your preferred month and duration — The application form asks for your preferred joining month and duration (2–6 months). Be realistic — this is a full-time in-person internship in Delhi. Mention this in your write-up as well.

Step 5: Send your application — Send complete package by email or physical post to:

Section Officer (Admn-I) Department of Expenditure Room No. 264-B, North Block New Delhi – 110001 Email: [email protected]

Send at least 15 days before your intended joining date. The selection committee reviews applications on a rolling basis — earlier applications get earlier consideration.

Step 6: Wait for selection committee response — Shortlisting is based on application quality, academic background, and alignment of your stated interests with available project slots. If selected, you will receive an official offer letter from the Department.

Step 7: Sign Declaration of Secrecy before joining — This is a mandatory legal document. You will sign it on your first day or before reporting, depending on the Division’s process.

Step 8: Complete internship + submit Report/Paper — At the end of your internship, submit a comprehensive report or paper on your assigned subject to the Head of the Division. Provide mandatory feedback on your experience. Certificate and stipend are released after this.

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For Department of Revenue (State Taxes) Internship

The process mirrors the Expenditure internship with two differences:

• Send to: Room No. 259-B, North Block, New Delhi | [email protected] | 011-23095376
• The 500-word write-up should specifically address your interest in tax reform and the GST framework — generic public policy write-ups are weaker here

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The MoF Internship Trap — Where Most Applicants Get Rejected

Here is what happens to most well-qualified applicants.

A final-year MA Economics student from Delhi University reads about the internship, puts together a strong CV, writes a 500-word write-up about “my interest in public finance and economic policy,” gets it signed by their department head, and emails it in.

They never hear back.

What went wrong: The write-up was generic. “Interest in public finance” describes every applicant. The selection committee is looking for something specific — a research question you are already working on that aligns with what the Division does, or a particular aspect of budgetary policy or GST reform where your academic work gives you a concrete lens.

The officers at the Department of Expenditure and Department of Revenue are working on real, live policy problems. They want interns who can contribute to those problems — not interns who want to observe.

How to fix it:

The 500-word write-up is the entire application. Your CV is the entry filter; the write-up is the selection factor. Write it like this:

1. Opening (50 words): State your specific research interest — not “public finance” but “fiscal federalism in India’s 15th Finance Commission transfers” or “GST input tax credit compliance rates among MSMEs”
2. Middle (300 words): Connect that research interest to a specific aspect of the Department’s work. For Expenditure: mention a policy area — public debt management, expenditure reforms, central transfers. For Revenue: mention a specific GST challenge — composition scheme compliance, e-invoicing adoption, IGST settlement delays
3. Close (150 words): State concretely what you will produce during the internship — a research paper, a comparative analysis, a policy note — and why your academic background (specific courses, thesis topic, professor guidance) equips you to produce it

A write-up written this way stands out from 95% of applications. Most applicants describe their desire to learn. The ones who get selected describe what they will contribute.

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MoF Internship vs NITI Aayog vs RBI Internship — Which to Choose

Choose MoF if: Your academic work is in public finance, taxation, fiscal economics, or financial law — and you want a certificate that signals direct policy engagement at the highest level of the finance ministry.

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Documents Required — Complete Checklist

☑ Application form — in prescribed format (request from [email protected] or download from official MoF website) ☑ Updated CV — academic qualifications, research work, publications, relevant projects ☑ 500-word write-up — signed by applicant — explaining relevance to career goals and specific contribution during internship ☑ Passport-sized photograph — typically 2 copies ☑ Proof of enrolment — letter from your university confirming current enrolment in the eligible programme ☑ Marksheets — UG degree (showing first-class), PG marksheets if applicable, Class 12 (for Law students — must show 80%+) ☑ Institutional authentication — signature and official seal of authorised university official on the application form ☑ CA PE-II certificate — only for Department of Revenue applicants applying on CA basis ☑ Research proposal or thesis abstract — for research scholar applicants (strongly recommended even if not mandatory)

At the time of joining: ☑ Declaration of Secrecy — signed before or on joining day ☑ Original documents — for verification at the time of reporting

At the end of internship: ☑ Report/Paper — on assigned subject, presented to Head of Division ☑ Mandatory feedback form — on internship experience and monitoring process

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Common Problems and How to Fix Them

“No response after sending application” → Cause: Application sent too close to intended joining date (less than 15 days), or write-up was generic → Fix: Send at least 15–30 days before your preferred start month. Follow up politely by email after 10 working days if no acknowledgement received

“Application returned — institutional seal missing” → Cause: Form submitted without official university authentication → Fix: Get the form signed AND sealed (rubber stamp) by your Head of Department or Registrar’s office. A faculty signature alone is insufficient

“Not sure which department to apply to” → Fix: Apply to the one where your academic background is strongest. Economics/Finance/Management PG → Department of Expenditure. Law (NLU/IIT) or CA (PE-II) → Department of Revenue. If both fit, apply to both with separate, tailored write-ups

“Stipend not received after internship ended” → Cause: Report/Paper not submitted or not evaluated yet → Fix: Follow up with your supervising DS/Director with the submitted report acknowledgement. Stipend release is tied to report evaluation — submit early, not on the last day

“Certificate not issued” → Cause: Report evaluation pending or feedback form not submitted → Fix: Submit both the report and the mandatory feedback form to the Division head before your last day. Ask for a written acknowledgement of submission

“Internship seat not available for my preferred month” → Cause: Seats are limited and filled on a rolling basis → Fix: Apply 45–60 days before your preferred month. Mention 2–3 alternate months in your application. Rolling applications increase your chance of matching an available slot

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Before You Apply — 10-Point Checklist

☑ Read the official internship guidelines on the Ministry of Finance website before filling the application form — guidelines are updated periodically ☑ Identify which department — Expenditure or Revenue — matches your academic background ☑ Write your 500-word essay before anything else — this is your real application, not the form ☑ Confirm your marks meet the specific threshold — first-class UG for PG students; 80% Class 12 for Law students; 50% PG for research scholars ☑ Get institutional authentication from the right authority — Head of Department or Registrar level, with official seal ☑ Send your application at least 30 days before your preferred joining month — not 15 days ☑ Plan Delhi accommodation before applying — this is full-time, in-person, North Block — there is no hybrid option ☑ Prepare for the Declaration of Secrecy — you will be working with non-public policy material ☑ Plan your finances — stipend is paid after completion, not monthly. For a 4-month internship, you receive full amount after month 4 ☑ Keep a digital copy of your submitted application, CV, and write-up — you may need to reference these in a joining interview or orientation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the stipend for the Ministry of Finance internship in 2026?

The Department of Expenditure internship pays ₹10,000 per month as a token remuneration. The Department of Revenue (State Taxes) internship pays ₹5,000 per month. In both cases, the stipend is paid after completion of the internship and submission of the required report or paper — not on a monthly basis during the internship.

Is the Ministry of Finance internship online or offline?

The internship itself is fully in-person and full-time at North Block, New Delhi. There is no remote or hybrid option. The application process is also offline — you submit your CV, application form, and write-up by email or physical post to the designated Section Officer. There is no online application portal.

Who is eligible for the Department of Expenditure internship?

Eligibility covers Indian nationals who are: PG students in Economics, Finance, or Management with a first-class undergraduate degree; research scholars in Economics/Finance/Management with at least 50% marks in post-graduation; or students in the 4th or 5th year of a 5-year integrated Law or other professional course with at least 80% in Class 12. Students must be from universities or institutions of national or international repute.

Who is eligible for the Department of Revenue internship?

The Department of Revenue internship is specifically for: first-class graduates in Economics/Finance/Management; PG students or high second-class PG holders; research scholars in public finance or economics; 5-year integrated Law students from NLU Bangalore, Bhopal, Hyderabad, or Kolkata; students from any IIT; and candidates who have cleared the PE-II stage of the CA examination.

How is the 500-word write-up different from a cover letter?

A cover letter explains who you are. The 500-word write-up for the MoF internship must explain two specific things: why this particular internship is useful to you relative to your career goals, and how your current academic work aligns with what the Department does. The most competitive write-ups mention a specific policy problem or research question relevant to the Division — not a general statement of interest in public finance.

Does the MoF internship guarantee a government job?

No. <cite index=”165-1″>The internship is neither a job nor any such assurance for a job in the Department of Expenditure.</cite> The same applies to the Department of Revenue internship. However, the experience, the working relationship with a Director-level officer, and the Ministry of Finance certificate carry significant weight in UPSC interviews, public policy programme applications, and finance sector careers.

Can I apply to both the Department of Expenditure and Department of Revenue?

Yes, if your academic profile fits both. You must send separate applications to each department at their respective addresses with separate, tailored 500-word write-ups. Do not send the same write-up to both — each department is looking for different alignment, and a generic write-up is the most common reason for rejection.

When should I apply and is there a fixed deadline?

There is no published annual deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the financial year, and placement depends on matching your availability with an available slot in a Division. Apply at least 30 days before your preferred start month. For summer internship slots (May–July), apply by March. For autumn slots (September–November), apply by July.

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Contact Information

Department of Expenditure Internship: Section Officer (Admn-I), Department of Expenditure Room No. 264-B, North Block, New Delhi – 110001 Email: [email protected]

Department of Revenue Internship (State Taxes): Room No. 259-B, North Block, New Delhi – 110001 Email: [email protected] Phone: 011-23095376

Ministry of Finance Official Website: finmin.nic.in Department of Expenditure: expenditure.gov.in Department of Revenue: dor.gov.in

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Official Links Summary

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Final Thought

The Ministry of Finance internship is genuinely rare — a small, selective, direct-placement opportunity to work inside India’s primary economic policy department. Most students who are eligible don’t apply because the information is hard to find and the process seems opaque.

It isn’t. The application is a CV, a form, and a 500-word write-up sent to an email address. The entire process takes two days to prepare.

What takes effort is the write-up. That one document is what separates the applicants who hear back from those who don’t.

If you do one thing after reading this: open a blank document and write the first draft of your 500-word write-up today — before you collect documents, before you get the form signed, before anything else. The clarity that comes from writing it will tell you whether you are ready to apply, and what research you need to do before you are.

Official contact: [email protected] (Expenditure) | [email protected] (Revenue)

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