The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is accepting applications for its October–December 2026 internship cycle under Internship Scheme 2024. The circular, dated 21 September 2026 and numbered HR-33012/3/2026-HR-FSSAI, opens applications from 22 September to 1 October 2026. The opportunity covers several academic backgrounds, including food sciences, information technology, management, communications, public policy, law and commerce, subject to the precise eligibility conditions.
The stipend is ₹10,000 for the whole internship period, not ₹10,000 per month. It is awarded to deserving interns on the recommendation of their office or division, based on attendance, assessment and report evaluation. This is also a programme for current students: candidates who have already completed the courses specified in the notice should not apply.
FSSAI internship 2026: key details
- Organisation: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Cycle: October–December 2026, under Internship Scheme 2024.
- Applications: 22 September–1 October 2026.
- Duration: Minimum two months, with extension possible up to a maximum of six months.
- Stipend: ₹10,000 total for the entire internship, subject to the stated assessment and recommendation conditions.
- Placement: FSSAI headquarters, regional offices or National Food Laboratories, according to the available subject and academic suitability.
- Application method: Online through the official FSSAI internship portal.
The circular does not announce a fixed number of internship seats. It also does not specify an exact closing time on 1 October, daily working hours or a weekly timetable. Applicants should complete submission early and follow subsequent official instructions rather than assume a midnight deadline or a particular work schedule.
What the programme offers
FSSAI is the statutory authority established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Its work includes food standards, regulation and food-safety administration. The internship provides exposure to these areas through attachment to a division, regional office or laboratory and through assigned projects related to food and nutrition management processes.
The attachment depends on the intern’s academic and technical training. A stated preference in the application is only an indication of interest, not confirmation of a project or department. This matters for applicants interested in IT, human resources or policy: the scheme includes these areas, but it does not promise a particular software project, HR assignment or policy topic to every selected student.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be pursuing a full-time graduate, postgraduate or higher programme at a recognised institute in India or abroad, within the courses listed in the circular. Read the course-level requirement as well as the subject name. A broad interest in nutrition, technology or management is not a substitute for the prescribed academic background.
Food science, science and technical disciplines
The notice includes students pursuing a postgraduate degree, BTech or BE in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Technology, Food Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition, Edible Oil Technology, Microbiology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural or Horticultural Sciences, Industrial Microbiology, Toxicology, Public Health, Life Science, Biotechnology, Fruit and Vegetable Technology, or Food Safety and Quality Assurance.
Applicants choosing a laboratory must have the appropriate technical qualification and ensure that their chosen subject is available at that location. A laboratory preference should therefore be based on both academic fit and the laboratory’s stated internship scope.
Management, communication, policy, law and commerce
The circular also lists Business Administration and Management, including policy regulation, finance, taxation law, marketing, psychology, human resource, economics, statistics, information and communication technology, entrepreneurship and related fields. Separate eligible categories include postgraduate diplomas or degrees in Journalism, Mass Communication and Public Relations.
Postgraduate degree or diploma students in Public Policy or Public Administration are eligible for FSSAI headquarters only. Bachelor’s or master’s students in Law, and Bachelor of Commerce students or those pursuing equivalent courses, are also included in the current circular. Applicants must still satisfy the current-student requirement and match their background to the available internship area.
Computer science and IT students
For BE/BTech students in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering or a related stream, the notice specifically restricts eligibility to the third and fourth years. First- and second-year students in this category are not eligible. The availability of Information Technology at headquarters should not be interpreted as a general invitation to students from every year or every computing course.
Multiple applications will not be entertained. Students who applied in an earlier quarter but were not selected need to apply again for the new quarter. These are separate rules: a previous unsuccessful application does not automatically carry forward, while submitting multiple applications for the current round is not permitted.
Locations and available areas
Headquarters, New Delhi: The notice lists Human Resource, Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance, Science and Standards, Imports/Trade and International Cooperation, Legal, the Policy Coordination Unit, Social and Behavioural Change, Training, the Central Procurement Unit, General Administration and Regulation. Training is listed for headquarters and NTCFSS Ghaziabad.
Regional offices: The Western Regional Office in Mumbai, Northern Regional Office in Ghaziabad and Southern Regional Office in Chennai offer exposure to Food Imports Clearance and Licensing.
National Food Laboratories: Ghaziabad, Kolkata, the Kolkata extension centre at Raxaul, Chennai and Mumbai are listed for Food Sampling and Testing. The circular specifically requires technically qualified applicants for laboratory placements.
This is an office/laboratory-based opportunity as described in the notice; no work-from-home arrangement is advertised. Choose a location only after considering attendance, travel and accommodation requirements. Preference does not guarantee selection at that location or allocation to a particular department.
Duration, stipend and personal expenses
The current circular sets a minimum internship duration of two months. An internship may be extended up to six months, but an extension is not automatic. No internship shorter than two months will be offered under these terms. The October–December cycle identifies the intake period; the selected intern’s joining date and tenure will be communicated separately.
The ₹10,000 stipend applies to the entire internship period. Eligibility for payment depends on the office or division’s recommendation, taking account of attendance, the reporting officer’s assessment and evaluation of the intern’s report by the relevant divisional head or regional/laboratory director. Do not calculate an expected monthly income by treating the advertised amount as a recurring monthly payment.
Interns must bring their own laptops. FSSAI provides workspace, internet and other necessities, but does not cover local lodging, travel or boarding expenses. For an applicant relocating to another city, those costs need to be considered separately from the conditional total stipend.
Selection and important dates
The concerned nodal officers will scrutinise applications. Candidates may be required to submit a short write-up or presentation for final selection. The circular does not specify a competitive written examination, a fixed interview timetable or a guaranteed selection outcome.
- Application opening: 22 September 2026.
- Application deadline: 1 October 2026.
- Shortlisted-candidate announcement: To be communicated.
- Joining date: To be communicated.
The final selection list, joining dates and internship tenures will be published online by FSSAI. Check the official internship page for updates. Requests to extend joining time by more than one week will not be accepted under the circular’s quarterly scheduling conditions.
How to apply online
- Open the official FSSAI internship portal and read the current October–December 2026 circular from FSSAI’s internship notices page.
- Check your current course, year of study and the subject available at your preferred office or laboratory.
- Use Apply Online and enter accurate personal, contact, current-course and institution details. Provide educational qualifications as requested, starting from Class 10.
- Prepare the short responses requested in the form: previous major projects, your subject of interest and your reason for applying. Each displayed write-up field allows a maximum of 500 characters.
- Upload a JPG or PNG photograph within the displayed 500 KB limit. If attaching a resume or supporting document, the form specifies PDF format up to 2 MB.
- Review the application before final submission. Retain the Applicant ID and a copy of your submitted details for future reference.
Use a working mobile number: the portal states that an SMS containing the unique Applicant ID is sent after saving or submitting. An application can be modified before final submission, with only the latest changes retained. No modification is permitted after final submission. The circular does not specify an application fee.
Documents at joining and completion certificate
Selected students must bring an institute letter confirming their student status and a No Objection Certificate allowing the internship for the selected period. A character certificate from the institution and proof of the educational qualifications declared in the application are also required at joining. Preparing these documents with the institution in advance is practical, but does not replace the selection process.
A certificate is awarded on successful completion, including submission and review of the final report or presentation by the responsible divisional head or regional/laboratory director. Applying, being shortlisted or attending for only part of the required period does not by itself establish successful completion.
Official application and reference links
- Official FSSAI internship application portal.
- Current FSSAI internship notices and updates.
- Official English circular dated 21 September 2026.
For internship queries, the official contact is internship-fssai@fssai.gov.in. Include your Applicant ID when seeking help about an existing application. This summary follows the current circular and portal information checked on 24 September 2026; applicants should follow any subsequent official update.
