MHRD Launches TULIP Portal to Provide Internship Opportunities to Fresh Graduates: Here’s How to Apply

With the aim to help fresh graduates in India find internship opportunities in all urban local bodies and smart cities, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) launched an online portal for ‘The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)’ The portal was jointly launched by Ramesh Pokhriyal,  Minister, Human Resource Development, Hardeep S Puri, MoS (I/C), Housing and Urban Affairs, and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Through TULIP the government aims to fulfill twin goals of providing interns with hands-on learning experience as well as infusing fresh energy and ideas in the functioning of India’s ULBs and Smart Cities. “Hope that TULIP program will bring fresh ideas to urban local bodies, & also help produce a specialized cadre of professionals to run ULBs. We will utilize this as a major step to get our youth to contribute to urbanization,” said Hardeep S Puri.

How can Graduates Apply for Internship Opportunities on TULIP Portal by MHRD?

The government through this portal aims to provide internships to at least 25,000 young graduates in local and urban bodies beginning this year. The details of the internship program are as follows:

1. Indian citizens can apply for internships, and fresh graduates who have passed the final year up to 18 months ago are eligible.
2. The duration of the internship will be 8 weeks to 1 year.
3. Details of the positions available will be displayed on the TULIP portal, and applications will strictly be accepted through the same medium.
4. Applications will require a recommendation from a competent authority of the concerned academic institution from where the candidate pursued his studies.
5. The applicant will also be required to submit a synopsis on urban issued under 1000 words along with his or her application,
6. A digitally signed and shareable internship certificate will be provided by MoHUA, State Government, AICTE and the ULB/smart city to candidates who successfully complete their tenure.
7. Interns will also be eligible for a stipend.

TULIP has been conceived pursuant to the Budget 2020-21 announcement by Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, under the theme ‘Aspirational India’. “The Government proposes to start a program whereby the urban local bodies across the country would provide internship opportunities to fresh engineers for a period up to one year," Sitharaman had announced at the time. The link to the TULIP portal will be shared as soon as it is made available.