Chief Minister's Digital Internship Programme 2026: J&K's New ₹10,000/Month GovTech Internship, Explained

The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved Batch-I of the Chief Minister's Digital Internship Programme 2026 — a six-month, paid internship that puts computer science and IT students to work on real government technology projects rather than a fetch-coffee summer job. It's a direct answer to a complaint every CS/IT student in Jammu has made at some point: plenty of course credit for internships, not enough places nearby that actually teach anything.

• What: Chief Minister's Digital Internship Programme 2026 (Batch-I)

• Runs for: Six months, paid

• Stipend: ₹10,000 a month

• Who administers it: J&K e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA)

• Eligible courses: BE/B.Tech, M.Tech, MCA and M.Sc in Computer Science or Information Technology

• Work areas: GovTech, cybersecurity, digital services

Who's eligible?

The programme is open to students pursuing BE/B.Tech, M.Tech, MCA and M.Sc in Computer Science or Information Technology, aimed at giving talented local youth hands-on exposure to emerging tech and digital governance. JaKeGA has not yet published the fine print on age limits, minimum percentage or year-of-study cut-offs, so students meeting the broad course criteria should watch JaKeGA's own notifications for the detailed eligibility list before assuming they qualify or don't.

What will interns actually work on?

This isn't a generic office internship — JaKeGA is the agency that runs J&K's actual digital government systems, so interns get placed on live GovTech, cybersecurity and digital services projects: the kind of e-governance tools that Jammu residents already use to apply for certificates, pay bills or track applications. The programme adds structured mentorship from experienced professionals on top of the project work, aimed at building technical depth rather than just ticking a resume box.

How much does it pay — and what do you get out of it?

Selected interns receive a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for the full six-month term. Beyond the pay cheque, the programme offers a completion certificate signed by the Chief Minister, and the best-performing intern projects will be considered for a 'Best Intern Initiative Award' — a credential worth having on a resume aimed at either a government-tech career or a private-sector one, since GovTech, cybersecurity and digital-services experience are all in demand well beyond the public sector.

What's not yet announced

The government order approves the scheme and its broad terms, but JaKeGA has not yet published the details a student actually needs to apply: the application portal or link, the opening and closing dates, the total number of Batch-I seats, and the selection process (whether it's a written test, interview, academic-record shortlist, or some combination). Treat any third-party website claiming to have an 'apply now' link for this scheme with caution until JaKeGA's own portal or a J&K government notification confirms it — JammuBeat will update this piece once that information is public.

How this compares to other options

For Jammu students juggling options, this sits alongside the central government's PM Internship Scheme, which pays ₹5,000 a month for a 12-month placement at a top-500 company, and the wider list of skilling and self-employment schemes JammuBeat has mapped out for World Youth Skills Day. The Chief Minister's Digital Internship Programme pays a higher monthly stipend over a shorter term and keeps the work local and government-facing — a real option for CS/IT students who'd rather build experience with J&K's own digital infrastructure than relocate for a corporate internship.

Sources: Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Life, and the J&K e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA), which is administering the programme.