₹5,000 per month, paid in two instalments with the first after three months
6 months (July 1 to December 31, 2026)
Engineering UG students in 7th/8th semester or PG students in 1st/2nd year with minimum 85% marks or 8.5 CGPA from AICTE/UGC approved institutes.
Principal/Director referral letter, semester mark sheets, Aadhaar copy, passport photo, NOC from college, police verification acknowledgement, medical fitness certificate.
DRDO internships rarely show up with clear stipends and limited seats. When they do, applications usually pile up quickly.
Applications for the DRDO ACEM Internship 2026 are now closed. The Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM) in Nashik offered a paid internship for engineering students, with just five positions available across multiple technical disciplines. The next cycle is expected around the same time next year.
To prepare for the next cycle, review the eligibility criteria and start gathering your documents. Being ready when applications open can help you submit a strong application on time.
Applications for the 2026 cycle closed on June 15, 2026, and had to be sent by post with a college principal's endorsement. Missing either step meant the application was not considered.
Program DRDO ACEM Paid Internship
| Organisation | Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), DRDO
| Location | Nashik, Maharashtra
| Internship Duration | 6 Months
| Monthly Stipend | ₹5,000 per month
| Total Seats | 5 (may change at DRDO's discretion)
| Eligibility | Engineering UG (7th/8th semester) or PG (1st/2nd year)
| Application Deadline | 15 June 2026 (closed)
| Internship Start Date | 1 July 2026
| Application Mode | Speed Post (offline)
If you're exploring multiple defence research internships, it also helps to check our complete guide to DRDO Internships 2026, which lists labs, stipends and application patterns across the organisation.
The DRDO ACEM Internship is a six‑month paid training program offered by the Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials in Nashik. ACEM is a specialised DRDO facility that works on composite propellants and rocket motor technologies used in strategic missile programs.
This lab deals with the materials and engineering behind propulsion systems. That makes the internship particularly interesting for students interested in aerospace, defence technology, energetic materials and advanced manufacturing.
Only five interns were selected for the 2026 cycle.
Many DRDO labs release internship ads with similar seat counts. Competition becomes intense quickly, especially when the eligibility cutoff is high.
The internship is open to a small set of engineering disciplines. Each branch has extremely limited seats.
Branch Code Discipline Seats
| CE | Chemical Engineering | 1
| ME | Mechanical / Armament / Defence Technology / Production Engineering | 1
| AE | Aero Engineering / Rocket Propulsion Systems | 1
| AI & DS | AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, System Engineering | 2
| CS | Computer Engineering / Information Technology | —
The total advertised seats are five, although DRDO notes the number may increase or decrease depending on requirements.
If you're tracking other DRDO openings right now, you might also want to look at the DRDO DLRL Internship 2026 in Hyderabad and the DRDO DEBEL Paid Internship 2026, both of which have significantly larger intake numbers.
The stipend for the internship is ₹5,000 per month. While it isn't the highest DRDO stipend out there, the research exposure at a propulsion materials facility is the real draw.
There are a few conditions attached.
If an intern leaves before completing three months, the stipend is not paid. Also, incomplete internships do not receive a completion certificate.
The eligibility requirements are stricter than many typical internships.
And yes, the 8.5 CGPA requirement must be maintained consistently across previous semesters.
Event Date
| Application Start | 22 May 2026
| Last Date to Apply | 15 June 2026 (closed)
| Shortlist Intimation | After 17 June 2026
| Internship Start | 1 July 2026
The application process is offline. That means you'll need to prepare documents, print the form and send it by speed post.
If shortlisted, selected interns must submit several verification documents when joining ACEM.
The undertakings related to the Official Secrets Act and Ministry of Defence IT rules are also provided in the official PDF notification. These must be signed by the student before joining the internship.
The selection committee at ACEM will shortlist candidates primarily based on merit.
The process may include:
Only shortlisted students will receive further communication regarding joining formalities.
If you're actively applying to research internships this year, it may also help to browse all opportunities on Talentd. New government lab internships show up almost every week.
DRDO clearly states a few conditions interns should keep in mind.
That last point matters. Some students assume DRDO internships convert into jobs automatically. They don't. But the experience can significantly strengthen your profile for research roles, higher studies, or defence tech companies.
Guide
Explore all DRDO Internships
Technical Content Writer
Radhika is a Technical Content Writer at Talentd, where she creates clear, practical, and research-driven content focused on jobs, internships, career guidance, and technology. She specializes in simplifying complex technical topics and turning them into easy-to-understand resources for students and fresh graduates. At Talentd, Radhika contributes to articles related to hiring updates, interview preparation, career roadmaps, and industry trends, helping thousands of learners stay informed and make better career decisions. Her work focuses on delivering accurate, actionable, and student-friendly content that supports the growing Talentd community.
DRDO DYSL-QT Internship 2026 offers ₹5,000/month stipend for UG/PG engineering and M.Sc Physics students. Check eligibility and how to apply.
DRDO SSPL Apprentice 2026 offers 41 paid positions in Delhi with ₹12,300 stipend for ITI candidates. Last date to apply is 21 August 2026 - check eligibility now.
Applications for the GTU Cyber Security Internship 2026 cycle closed on 25 July 2026. The next cycle is expected around the same time next year. Review eligibility and prepare documents now to be ready.
Applications for the last DRDO ACEM Apprentice cycle closed on July 26, 2026. Review eligibility and prepare documents for the next cycle, expected next year.
