Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission 2026

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched an internship scheme to offer students a chance to Read More... learn about the organisation's operations and contribute to policy matters. Read less

Details

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is offering a valuable internship opportunity for students. This scheme allows aspiring professionals to gain hands-on experience and understand the functioning of EPFO, a key organization in India's social security system. Interns will have the chance to contribute to policy formulation and gain insights into government policies.

What Is The EPFO Internship Scheme?

This scheme provides a platform for students to work as 'Interns' with EPFO. It's designed to be a mutually beneficial engagement where interns can learn about the organization's operations and policy issues, while also contributing their ideas and analysis towards policy and legislation. It's important to note that this internship is not a job offer and does not guarantee future employment with EPFO.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The internship is open to students who are currently pursuing their studies or have recently graduated. This includes individuals studying law in their final two years of a degree, law graduates, those pursuing post-graduation in law, or law research scholars. Additionally, students enrolled in post-graduate courses such as MBA, MSW, MSc, MA, M.Com, or MCA from recognized Indian or international universities and institutions are eligible.

Why This Scheme Is Important

The EPFO Internship Scheme is crucial for several reasons. It offers students a unique opportunity to gain practical exposure to the workings of a major government organization. By contributing policy inputs through empirical analysis and research, interns can play a role in shaping policies. This experience is invaluable for their academic and professional development, providing them with a deeper understanding of public administration and financial security systems in India.

Objective

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched an internship scheme to offer students a chance to learn about the organisation's operations and contribute to policy matters.

Benefits

Key benefits of the Scheme include:

One member (preferably a woman) from each rural poor household would be brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network. Women SHG groups would have bank-linkage arrangements.

SHGs would be federated at the village level and higher levels to provide space, voice and resources and to reduce dependence on external agencies.

The Mission consists of four components, viz., (i) social mobilization, community institution, and capacity building; (ii) financial inclusion; (iii) livelihood promotion; and (iv) convergence.

The participatory social assessment would be organized to identify and rank all households according to vulnerability. The ranking would be with reference to the poorest of the poor, single woman and woman-headed households, disabled, landless, and migrant labor and they would receive special focus.

Training and capacity building of the poor, particularly in relation to managing the institutions, livelihoods, credit absorption, and creditworthiness.

The Mission also supports the development of skills for rural youth and their placement, training, and self-employment through rural self-employment institutes (RSETIs), innovations, infrastructure creation, and market support.

Provision of Revolving Fund as support to SHGs to strengthen their institutional and financial management capacity and build a good credit history.

Provision of Community Investment Support Fund (CIF) in the intensive blocks to the SHGs through the Federations to advance loans and/or undertake common/collective socio-economic activities.

Introduction of financial inclusion model, loaning from banks, association and coordination with banking/financial institutions, and coverage from loss of life, health, etc.

Provision of Interest Subvention on loans availed by SHGs to cover the difference between the lending rate of the banks and 7%.

Convergence with various ministries and agencies dealing with poverty reduction of rural poor.

With highly decentralized planning; States will have liberty in developing their own action plan for poverty reduction.

NRLM to have suitable linkages at the district level with District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) and Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Sources and references

Guidelines

Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the EPFO Internship Scheme, you must meet one of the following criteria:

You are currently pursuing law and are in the last two years of your degree course, or you are a law graduate.
You are pursuing a post-graduation course in law or are a research scholar in law.
You are pursuing a post-graduation course such as MBA, MSW, MSc, MA, M.Com, or MCA.

Additionally, you must be enrolled in a recognized university or institution, whether in India or abroad.

How to Apply for the Internship

Interested candidates can apply for the EPFO Internship Scheme by submitting their applications via email. Please send your application to the following email address:

[email protected]

Important Note: Soft copies of mark sheets, certificates, or other documentary proofs are not required at the initial application stage.

Documents Needed for the Internship

There are different sets of documents required at various stages of the internship application and selection process.

At the Time of Application:

Letter of Recommendation: A recommendation letter from the Head of your Institution, written on the official stationery of the institution where you are studying.
Permission/No Objection Certificate: If you are pursuing the internship while also continuing your course, you will need a permission letter or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your Supervisor or Head of Department.

Note: The recommendation letter should detail your particulars, including the course you are pursuing, your enrollment/roll number, the year/batch of your course, and the desired duration of the internship. It should also highlight your personal characteristics and suitability for the EPFO internship.

At the Time of Selection:

Proof of Identity: Copies of valid identity documents such as a Passport, Aadhar Card, or Voter Card. For OCI card holders, a passport, OCI Card, and National Identity Card are required.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): Your updated resume.
Academic Records: Self-attested copies of your certificates, mark sheets, and transcripts for all your academic achievements and current courses, along with the original documents for verification.

At the Time of Internship Completion:

Report/Paper: Interns will need to submit a Report or Paper on their assigned subject to the Head of the Division at the end of their internship period.

FAQ’s

How can I apply for the EPFO internship program?

To apply, you need to send your application via email to [email protected]. You don't need to send soft copies of your mark sheets or certificates with your initial application.

What kind of support will interns get during their internship?

EPFO will provide interns with a workspace, a computer with internet access, and other necessary facilities as decided by the head of the division they are attached to.

What is the main goal of the EPFO Internship Scheme?

The scheme aims to let students learn about how EPFO works and its policy matters. It also helps them contribute to policy and legislation formulation through their research and analysis. However, completing the internship does not guarantee a job at EPFO.

How long does the internship last?

The internship period can be anywhere from a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 6 months.

Will I get paid for the internship?

Yes, you will receive a stipend of ₹8,000 per month. This payment is made after the officer you are attached to certifies that you have completed the internship satisfactorily.

What documents do I need when I get selected?

During selection, you'll need to show copies of your identity proof (like Aadhar or Passport), your CV, and self-attested copies of your educational certificates and mark sheets, along with the originals for verification.

Does the scheme mention any age limit for applicants?

The official guidelines for this internship scheme do not specify any particular age limit for applicants.

How many interns will EPFO be hiring?

EPFO plans to engage a maximum of 10 interns. The selection and placement of these interns will be done with the approval of the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, based on suitability and organizational needs.

Do I need a special letter from my college to apply?

Yes, you need a Letter of Recommendation from the Head of your Institution. This letter should be on the official letterhead of your institution.

What is expected of interns once the internship is over?

At the end of your internship, you are required to submit a report or paper on the topic you were assigned to the Head of the Division.

Will I get a certificate after completing the internship?

Yes, upon successfully completing the internship and submitting an evaluated report or paper, you will be issued a Certificate of Internship.

What if I am still studying? Do I need anything extra?

If you plan to do the internship while still enrolled in a course, you must provide a Permission Letter or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your Supervisor or Head of Department.

What specific information should be in the recommendation letter?

The recommendation letter should clearly state your course, enrollment number, year of study, and the duration you wish to intern. It should also briefly describe your personal qualities and how well you'd fit in at EPFO.

Where will I be placed during the internship?

You will be assigned to an officer within a specific Division, Department, or Wing of EPFO. The Central Provident Fund Commissioner will decide your placement based on your suitability and the requirements of the division.

Who is eligible to apply for this internship?

Eligible candidates include students in the last two years of their law degree, law graduates, those pursuing post-graduation in law or doing research in law, and students pursuing post-graduate courses like MBA, MSW, MSc, MA, M.Com, or MCA from recognized universities in India or abroad.

Do I need to submit any documents at the time of applying?

Yes, at the application stage, you need to submit a Letter of Recommendation from your institution's head and, if applicable, a Permission Letter/NOC from your department for ongoing courses.