Internship Stipend in India: What Sources Show (2026)

Last updated: 21 September 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

What is an internship stipend, and how much does it pay in India?

An internship stipend is the regular payment an intern receives, usually monthly, and published figures for India do not agree on how much it is. This guide puts the sources we could open side by side, with their dates and methods, instead of averaging them into one number.

It also shows how to judge a specific offer. It is for students and freshers in India, and it flags where the evidence is thin.

What do published sources say about internship stipends in India?

They give different numbers because they measure different things. The table lists each source, what it reports and the limits we could see.

The Indeed average sits above the Glassdoor median, and the scheme minimum sits below both. None of these is wrong, and each answers a slightly different question.

Why do the stipend figures differ?

The methods are different, so the numbers are different. Indeed says its figures come from job postings on its platform over 36 months, which means they reflect what employers advertised and not what interns reported receiving.

Glassdoor's figure comes from submissions, and the page we read showed no date. The PM Internship Scheme figure is a floor set by a government programme, so it says little about what private employers pay outside it.

Two more limits apply to all of them. Sources built from stated pay may under-represent unpaid internships, and a 36-month window can mix older and newer offers. Both are our reading of the methods, not statements from the sources.

Does city or role change the stipend?

Probably, but the pages we opened give only a partial view. Indeed's intern page lists three cities, each with an average monthly figure.

Indeed presents these as the highest-paying cities on its page, so they say nothing about typical stipends in the rest of India. They also come from postings, so a city with few postings can look high.

For role, Indeed's data scientist page shows Rs 25,209 a month for data science interns (updated 14 August 2026). That sits above Indeed's overall intern average, but the two pages have different samples and we do not know the data science sample size. Use it as a hint that role matters, not as proof.

What does the PM Internship Scheme pay?

A PIB release dated 22 April 2026 says interns under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme receive minimum financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per month. The same release says final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18 to 25 can now apply, with a No Objection Certificate from their institution.

The release names the application portal as pminternship.mca.gov.in. It does not say how the Rs 9,000 is split between government and company, and it does not describe the duration, so read the official portal for the current terms. Earlier versions of the scheme were reported with different amounts, which is why the date on any figure matters.

How do you check whether a stipend offer is fair?

Compare it with more than one source, then check what you would actually keep. Follow these steps.

1. Find your closest match. Search for the same role, city and level, and note which source and date each figure comes from.
2. Collect two or three ranges. Use different source types, such as a postings-based page and a submissions-based page, and see where they overlap.
3. Ask for the offer in writing. It should state the amount, payment date, duration, hours and who pays.
4. Subtract your costs. Include travel, food and rent if you are moving.
5. Weigh what else you get. A named supervisor, real project work and a letter or reference can matter as much as the number.
6. Do not pay to be hired. A registration fee or deposit for an internship is a warning sign, and our guide on how to find an internship in India explains how to check a listing.

For the general method behind this, see our guide on how to research salary in India.

What does a worked example look like?

Here is an illustration with invented numbers, not real data. Riya is offered Rs 12,000 a month for three months in a city where she must rent a room.

She finds Glassdoor's monthly range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 and Indeed's average of Rs 21,119, so her offer sits at the low end of the range and below the average. She also learns from the PM Internship Scheme release that Rs 9,000 is a stated minimum for eligible participants, which puts her offer above that floor.

Her costs are Rs 4,000 a month for travel and food, leaving Rs 8,000. She asks whether the stipend can move, and whether a project letter, a supervisor and a possible full-time conversation are included. Her decision rests on the whole offer, not on where one figure lands in a table.

What do most guides on internship stipends get wrong?

Most guides give one average and stop. That leaves out the details you need.

• They quote a number with no date or method. Without them, you cannot tell a posting average from a guess.
• They treat sector tables as promises. A range for a whole sector hides city, company size and skills.
• They ignore the difference between a market figure and a scheme rule. The PM Internship Scheme minimum is a floor for one programme.
• They skip the offer letter. A stated stipend means little until the amount, dates and duration are in writing.

For a wider look at paid and unpaid options, read our paid internships guide.

FAQ

How much stipend do interns get in India?

Published figures disagree. Indeed (updated 13 August 2026) shows an average of Rs 21,119 a month from job postings, Glassdoor shows Rs 10,000 to 25,000, and the PM Internship Scheme states a Rs 9,000 minimum. Your offer depends on role, city and employer.

What is a good internship stipend in India?

There is no single figure that counts as good. Compare your offer with several sourced ranges for the same role and city, then subtract your costs such as travel and rent. A stipend that covers your costs and comes with real work and a supervisor is worth more than a bare number.

Do all internships in India pay a stipend?

No. Glassdoor's India intern page notes that some internships are unpaid while many provide stipends to cover basic living expenses. Ask about pay before you accept, and get the amount, dates and duration written in an offer letter so both sides are clear.

What is the minimum stipend under the PM Internship Scheme?

A PIB release dated 22 April 2026 says interns receive minimum financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per month. It also widens eligibility to final-year students aged 18 to 25 with a No Objection Certificate. Check the official PMIS portal for current terms before applying.

Do data science internships pay more than other internships?

One source suggests they can. Indeed's data scientist page shows Rs 25,209 a month for data science interns, against Rs 21,119 for interns overall on its intern page. Both are posting-based averages with small or unstated samples, so treat the gap as a hint, not a rule.

How do I confirm an internship stipend before accepting?

Ask for the amount, payment date, deductions, duration and who pays, and get them in a written offer letter. Compare the amount with two or three sourced ranges for your role and city. Never pay a fee to get an internship, and walk away if the terms stay vague.

Final thoughts

An internship stipend is best judged as a range from several sources, then tested against your own costs and the learning on offer. Keep the date and method beside every figure you use.

To find openings, browse the jobs page, and use the AI resume reviewer on asuraa.in to check your resume against a role before you apply. This post is for information and is not legal or financial advice.