DRDO DYSL QT Recruitment 2026 – Apply Offline for 5 Paid Internship Posts in Quantum Technologies

DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory – Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), Ministry of Defence, has issued Advertisement No. DYSL-QT/ADM/PDINTERN/2026/02 inviting applications for five paid internships lasting six months, based at the DIAT Campus, Girinagar, Pune – 411025.

DYSL-QT was constituted to carry out research and development in quantum technologies, specifically quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum sensing. The lab works in association with IITs, central and state universities and other leading academic institutions, so an internship here puts a final-year student inside genuine defence research rather than a shadowing exercise.

The stipend is ₹5,000 per month. Nobody applies to this for the money. What you get is six months on a quantum technologies programme under the Ministry of Defence, a completion certificate, and a project report you can actually talk about in a research interview. Applications go by speed post only, and training is scheduled to start on 1 September 2026.

Recruitment at a Glance

Branch-wise Vacancy Details

All five internships are located at DYSL-QT, Girinagar, Pune – 411025 and all carry the same ₹5,000 monthly stipend for six months. The advertisement groups M.Sc Physics and M.Tech Physics under a combined allocation of two seats, so treat those two disciplines as competing for the same pool rather than having separate quotas.

The bracketed preferences are where the shortlist will really be decided. A mechanical candidate who has done serious 3D design work, or a computer science candidate with Python and image processing on their record, has a materially better case than one who simply meets the branch requirement. The same is true of an M.Sc Physics candidate specialising in optics, which sits directly on top of quantum communication and sensing work.

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Educational Qualification

• Under Graduate Engineer: currently pursuing an Engineering degree, in the 7th or 8th semester; OR
• Post Graduate Engineer: M.Tech (IInd year), full time course in the respective discipline, from a recognised Indian University or Institute; OR
• M.Sc (Physics): M.Sc Physics (IInd Year), preferably in Optics or the application of quantum mechanics.

This is a programme for students who are still enrolled. If you have already graduated, you are not eligible, because the whole structure depends on your college relieving you and issuing an NOC.

Academic Record

A student must have a good academic track record with at least 70% marks or a CGPA of at least 7.0 on a scale of 10, described in the notification as first class with distinction, from AICTE or UGC approved universities. A copy of the marksheet must be enclosed with the application.

Age Limit

Below 28 years. Confirm your exact age with our free age calculator before posting your application.

Institutional Requirement

The Principal or Director of the institution must provide a request letter, and the notification is explicit that this should be issued only for highly deserving meritorious students. A prescribed format for this letter is attached to the advertisement, to be printed on college letterhead and signed by the Principal or Director with the office seal.

That letter is the practical bottleneck. It requires your college to commit in writing that they will relieve you for the internship, that you will be physically present for a minimum of 15 working days a month, and that you will complete the full tenure. Start that conversation with your department today rather than after you have filled the form.

Stipend and Payment Terms

The stipend is ₹5,000 per month, and payment is conditional rather than automatic:

• The stipend and retention on the programme for six months apply only if the student maintains good academic performance and completes a minimum of 15 days of physical attendance per month at DYSL-QT.
• Payment is made in two instalments. The first instalment is paid after 03 months of the internship, and the second after six months.
• The notification states these are credited to the student’s bank account as ₹15,000 each after three months and six months respectively.
• No payment is made if a student does not complete a tenure of 03 months. To receive the first instalment, the first three months must be completed successfully.
• No boarding or lodging expenses are admissible. Selected candidates must arrange their own accommodation in Pune.
• There is no fee for submitting the application form or at any stage of the selection process.

Work the numbers before you commit. Six months in Pune on ₹15,000 paid at the three month mark and ₹15,000 at the end, with no accommodation provided, means you are funding your own living costs upfront for a full quarter. Discuss this with your family early, because the financial planning is a bigger obstacle for most candidates than the eligibility criteria.

Selection Process

• A brief bio-data of under 300 words highlighting achievements must be submitted.
• Awards and professional memberships, if any, are to be mentioned.
• Selection is based on the CGPA or percentage of all previous semesters or years, combined with an offline examination, telephonic interview or in-person interaction as required, subject to satisfactory verification of documents.
• Only shortlisted students are notified about joining procedures, undertaking forms and the indemnity bond.
• Incomplete applications are automatically rejected, as are erroneous applications and those received after the due date. No further communication is entertained.
• Selection is entirely on merit, and no communication is undertaken for rejected candidates.
• The management reserves the right to change vacancy positions or selection criteria at any point without assigning a reason.

How to Apply

1. Fill the prescribed application format attached to the notification, affixing a passport size photograph of 4.5 x 3.5 cm.
2. Enclose your CGPA or marks copy, the referral letter from the Principal or HOD in the attached format, your bio-data of under 300 words, and details of any awards or professional memberships.
3. Send the complete application by Speed Post to: Director DYSL-QT, Hall No. 01, Ground Floor, DIAT Campus, Girinagar, Pune 411025, marked Kind Attn: To Admin.
4. On the top of the envelope, clearly write “Application for Paid Internship”, and below it mention the “Branch ……..” you are applying for, so applications can be segregated.

The branch marking on the envelope is mentioned twice in the notification, which is usually a sign that it has caused problems before. Write it clearly. If you are scanning your marksheets and referral letter to keep a record before posting, our free JPG to PDF converter will combine the photographs into a single file in your browser.

Documents Required at the Time of Joining

Selected students must submit the following when they join:

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from college authorities, in original on college letterhead, stating that the student will be relieved for internship training at DYSL-QT and will be present for a minimum of 15 working days a month.
• Police verification from the local police station. The acknowledgement received from the police station must be submitted at the time of joining.
• Undertaking for adherence to the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923.
• Undertaking that the intern will follow the IT rules and regulations applicable to the Ministry of Defence and its amendments.
• Bank details for transfer of the internship amount.
• Medical fitness certificate from an authorised medical practitioner holding at least an MBBS degree.
• Aadhaar card in original along with the college ID card for verification, plus three passport size photographs.
• All previous semester marksheets in original for verification. Originals are returned immediately after verification.
• Request letter from the college in the attached format, and an indemnity form provided by the college as and when required by DYSL-QT.

Two prescribed undertakings are printed in the advertisement itself, one for the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923 and one for MoD IT rules. Both are signed declarations acknowledging that a breach makes you liable to the penalties in the respective Act or Rules. This is defence research, and the paperwork reflects that.

Completion Certificate and Employment

• A Completion Certificate is issued after the student completes 06 months from the date of joining, on successful completion of the training including clearing the evaluation of project work, submission of the project report, and completion of other formalities.
• If a student is unable to complete the internship and leaves in between, no completion certificate is issued.
• DYSL-QT and DRDO have no obligation to offer employment to interns or project students, and no intern can claim a right to employment on the ground of having completed the internship.

Important Dates

A note on the closing date. The advertisement is internally inconsistent on this point. The opening paragraph invites applications within 10 days from the date of publication, while the Important Dates table in the same document says 20 days from the date of advertisement. Given that shortlisted students are informed on 25 August and training starts 1 September, the shorter reading is the safer one to work to. Post your application immediately rather than assuming you have the longer window, and confirm with the lab if you need certainty.

Important Links

Related Recruitment

For other defence sector openings closing this month, DIO Individual Consultants Recruitment 2026 is hiring six Individual Consultants for the iDEX Project Management Team at New Delhi, closing 10 August 2026, and HAL Management & Design Trainee Recruitment 2026 has 120 Design and Management Trainee posts with a ₹50,000 stipend during training.

If you are a student looking for stipended technical training rather than a full-time post, RailTel Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has 40 Graduate and Diploma Engineer apprentice seats and AAI Eastern Region Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has 140 seats with stipends up to ₹15,000. For research fellowships, ISRO NRSC Recruitment 2026 includes Junior Research Fellow positions among its 48 posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the DRDO DYSL QT internship 2026?

Students currently pursuing the 7th or 8th semester of undergraduate engineering, the 3rd or 4th semester of M.Tech, or the second year of M.Sc Physics, in the disciplines listed in the advertisement.

How many internships are available?

Five in total. Three under the B.Tech / M.Tech branch code and two across M.Sc Physics and M.Tech Physics.

What is the stipend?

₹5,000 per month for six months, paid in two instalments of ₹15,000 each after three months and six months.

What marks do I need?

At least 70% marks or a CGPA of at least 7.0 on a scale of 10, from an AICTE or UGC approved university, with a copy enclosed.

What is the age limit?

Below 28 years.

How do I apply?

By speed post only, to Director DYSL-QT, Hall No. 01, Ground Floor, DIAT Campus, Girinagar, Pune 411025, marked Kind Attn: To Admin. Write “Application for Paid Internship” and your branch on top of the envelope.

Is there an application fee?

No. There is no fee for submitting the application form or at any stage of the selection process.

Is accommodation provided?

No. No boarding or lodging expenses are admissible and selected candidates must arrange accommodation themselves.

What happens if I leave the internship early?

No completion certificate is issued, and no payment is made if you do not complete a tenure of three months.

Will DRDO offer me a job after the internship?

No. DYSL-QT and DRDO have no obligation to offer employment to interns, and no intern can claim a right to employment on the ground of having completed the internship.

Do I need a letter from my college?

Yes. A request letter from the Principal or Director in the prescribed format is mandatory, and an original NOC on college letterhead must be submitted at the time of joining.

Details above are taken from DRDO DYSL-QT Advertisement No. DYSL-QT/ADM/PDINTERN/2026/02. The notification carries conflicting statements on the closing date; read the full document and apply at the earliest.