Startup India Seed Fund Scheme- For Startups 2026

The National Green Tribunal offers internship opportunities for LL.B., LL.M., Environmental Studies, and research students during summer Read More... and winter sessions. Read less

Details

Are you a law or environmental studies student looking to gain practical experience? The National Green Tribunal (NGT) offers internship programs for students like you to learn about environmental law and policy in action.

What Is This Scheme?

This is an internship program run by the National Green Tribunal. It's designed to give students a hands-on experience in environmental law and research. You can participate in either the Summer Internship Program, typically held from March to July, or the Winter Internship Program, usually from November to January.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This internship is specifically for students who are currently pursuing a three-year or five-year law degree. It's also open to students studying environmental studies or environmental law. The course must be from a recognized College, Law School, or University in India.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Interning with the NGT provides a unique chance to understand the workings of a key environmental judicial body. It's a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge, contribute to environmental justice, and build their professional network. You'll get to work on real cases and research, guided by experienced professionals.

Objective

The National Green Tribunal offers internship opportunities for LL.B., LL.M., Environmental Studies, and research students during summer and winter sessions.

Benefits

Seed Funds to an eligible startup by the incubator shall be disbursed as follows:

Up to ₹20 Lakhs as a grant for validation of Proof of Concept, prototype development, or product trials. The grant shall be disbursed in milestone-based installments. These milestones can be related to the development of prototypes, product testing, building a product ready for market launch, etc.
Up to ₹50 Lakhs of investment for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments.
Seed funds shall strictly not be used by startups for the creation of any facilities and shall be utilized for the purpose it has been granted for.

Note 01:Not more than 20% of the total grant to an incubator shall be given as grants to start-ups by the incubator. The rate of interest (as defined under GFR) on unutilized funds available with the incubator would also be taken into account and adjusted at the time of the next release by DPIIT.

Note 02:For startups being supported through convertible debentures or debt, or debt-linked instruments, funds shall be provided at a rate of interest of not more than the prevailing repo rate. The tenure should be fixed at the time of sanctioning the loan by the incubator, which shall be not more than 60 months (5 years). A moratorium of up to 12 months may be provided for the startups. Because of the early stage of the startups, this shall be unsecured and no guarantee from the promoter or third party will be required.

Note 03:The incubator shall execute a legal agreement with the selected startups before the release of the first installment. The incubators shall ensure that the necessary terms and conditions, including milestones, related to the Seed Fund are detailed in the agreement.

Note 04:Subsequent disbursement would be linked to the achievement of previously specified milestones as per agreement between the startup and incubator.

Note 05:Startups will receive the funds in their company bank accounts.

Note 06:For grants, the first installment to any selected startup shall be released not more than 60 days from receipt of the application from the startup. The startup shall submit the interim progress update and utilization certificate to initiate the release of subsequent installments of the grant.

Note 07:Startup shall submit a final report and audited utilization certificate at the end of the project duration. For failed ventures, the entrepreneur will share his/her learnings and the reasons for failure in the report and submit this along with the utilization certificate for the fund amount.

Note 08:The incubator or any of its staff members shall not charge any fee in cash or in kind from applicants or beneficiaries under the scheme for any process of selection, disbursement, incubation, or monitoring.

Note 09:A grievance cell shall be set up at DPIIT for the scheme to address issues of applicants, such as delayed evaluation of applications, delayed disbursements by incubators, etc.

Sources and references

Official Website

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a student currently enrolled in a three-year or five-year law degree program.
Alternatively, you can be a student pursuing studies in environmental studies or environmental law.
Your college, law school, or university must be recognized in India.

How To Apply

Interested students should submit their applications in the prescribed format.
For the Summer Internship Programme, applications must be sent by 1st February.
For the Winter Internship Programme, applications should be submitted by 1st October.
Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar General, National Green Tribunal (Principal Bench), Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi- 110001.
The email ID for the Registrar General is: [email protected].

Official Application Link

You can find more details and the application format at: Scheme Guidelines Link

Documents Required

When you join: You need to provide a recommendation or no-objection letter from your Director or Head of Department.
At the end of the internship: You must submit a research paper or report on a topic you selected. You will also need to present notes on any assigned studies, for evaluation.

FAQ’s

What is the internship duration at the National Green Tribunal?

The internship typically lasts for 4 weeks. However, the Competent Authority can change the duration and timings if needed.

What happens if my application reaches the NGT after the deadline?

Applications submitted after the last date might not be considered. The NGT will not entertain further communication regarding late applications.

Can I get paid for this internship?

No, the National Green Tribunal does not offer any salary or reimbursement for expenses to the interns.

When will I receive my internship certificate?

You will be given a certificate after you finish your internship, provided your research paper or the work you've done is evaluated and approved.

Who should I contact for internship applications?

Applications should be sent to the Registrar General at the National Green Tribunal's Principal Bench. The address is: Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi- 110001.

Is there a specific format for the research paper or report?

Yes, interns are required to present a research paper or report on a selected topic. You'll also need to prepare notes on other studies assigned to you for evaluation.

Which ministry does the National Green Tribunal fall under?

The National Green Tribunal is part of the Department of Legal Affairs, which operates under the Ministry of Law & Justice of the Indian government.

How many times a year can I apply for this internship?

Applications are accepted twice a year. There are Summer Internship Programs (usually March-July) and Winter Internship Programs (usually November-January).

Can students from fields like Mechanical Engineering apply for this internship?

No, this internship is exclusively for students pursuing law degrees (LL.B./LL.M.) or studies in environmental law or environmental studies from recognized institutions in India.

What is the last date to apply for the Summer Internship?

You need to submit your application for the Summer Internship Programme by February 1st.

Where can I find the official link to the internship guidelines?

You can find the official guidelines and application details at this link: https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/all_documents/CCF05072017_0001.pdf

What is the last date to apply for the Winter Internship?

The deadline for submitting applications for the Winter Internship Programme is October 1st.