Internship Culture in Indian Academia: Reforming Legal and Educational Norms

Author: Sarthak, National Law University

Over the past decade, the internship culture in Indian academia—particularly in professional fields like law, medicine, engineering, and business—has undergone a significant transformation. Once considered optional or peripheral, internships have now become central to bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. However, despite their growing prominence, the regulatory and legal frameworks governing internships remain fragmented, often contributing to issues such as exploitation, lack of standardization, and unequal access.

In the legal education space, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has integrated internships into the curriculum through Rule 25 of the BCI Rules on Legal Education, 2008. This rule mandates that law students intern with advocates, law firms, courts, or legal organizations during their academic tenure. While this regulation formalizes internships in legal studies, it fails to define key protections and entitlements—such as fair stipends, reasonable work hours, or structured grievance redressal mechanisms.

Similarly, the University Grants Commission (UGC), through its Guidelines for Apprenticeship/Internship Embedded Degree Programmes (2021), has emphasized the academic value of internships by encouraging their integration into credit-based academic systems. Yet, the effectiveness of these guidelines varies widely across institutions. While some universities offer well-structured internship programs, others provide superficial or unpaid placements that lack educational merit.

A core concern lies in the absence of comprehensive legislation regulating internships in India. Interns—unlike regular employees—are generally excluded from the ambit of crucial labor laws such as the Factories Act, 1948, and the Minimum Wages Act, 1948. This legal vacuum opens the door to widespread exploitation. The Interns (Protection and Regulation) Bill, 2021, introduced as a private member bill, sought to establish safeguards for interns, including minimum stipends, regulated work hours, and anti-harassment protections. However, the bill remains pending in Parliament, leaving interns vulnerable and unprotected.

From an equity standpoint, the internship ecosystem further entrenches socio-economic disparities. Students from elite institutions and metropolitan backgrounds often gain access to prestigious, paid internships. In contrast, those from Tier 2 or rural institutions struggle to secure meaningful opportunities. A 2023 report by NITI Aayog underscored the need for a centralized digital internship portal to promote transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity across sectors.

While Indian courts have not squarely addressed intern rights within labor law jurisprudence, they have emphasized the importance of experiential learning. In Shreya Sen v. Union of India (2022), the Delhi High Court highlighted the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure that internships align with the ethical and academic goals of professional education, particularly in fields like law and medicine.

Conclusion

The evolving culture of internships in Indian academia marks a positive shift toward experiential learning and professional preparedness. However, in the absence of strong legal and institutional frameworks, internships risk devolving into exploitative or symbolic exercises. For internships to truly empower students, India must implement standardized norms, secure intern rights, and promote equal access—through a collaborative effort involving educational institutions, regulatory bodies, and policymakers.