The Government of India’s focus on ramping up its cyber-crime and digital-forensics capabilities has taken a step forward with the announcement of the Winter Internship Programme 2025 by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

This internship offers a rare opportunity for students to work in one of the most critical domains of modern governance — cybercrime investigation, digital forensics and national-level cyber security operations.

Who is eligible?

The programme is open to students currently enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD programmes in a broad range of disciplines. Eligibility covers technical fields such as Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, and Engineering (Electrical/Electronics/Communications). It also extends to law (LLB/LLM), criminology, sociology, media & journalism, digital-media content creation and other related domains connected to cyberspace or cybercrime.

What will the internship involve?

Participating interns will gain direct exposure to how the country tackles cyber threats. This will include:

Working alongside cyber-crime investigators and digital forensics experts at I4C. 

Exposure to real-world workflows: investigating digital footprints, analysing malware patterns, exploring threat intelligence, and understanding the policy-technology interface in cyber-crime response.

Certificate of completion from I4C upon successful fulfilment of duties. 

Important Dates & Application Process

Last date to apply: 17 October 2025.

Applicants must visit the official I4C website (i4c.mha.gov.in), locate the “What’s New” section, download the SOP and application form, fill in the details, upload all required documents and submit via the Google Form link provided.

Shortlisting will be based on verified documentation; selected candidates are typically notified about 4-5 weeks after the deadline.

Costs, Duration & Benefits

The internship is unpaid (no stipend mentioned in recent announcements). Travel/accommodation costs are borne by the intern; I4C or respective state/UT police departments do not provide accommodation. 

Duration: Typically aligned with the “Winter” window (October to March) for the Winter Internship cycle.

On-site exposure, certificate, and a chance to work on a national-level cybersecurity initiative make this a valuable experience for students wanting careers in cybersecurity, public safety or law enforcement.

Why apply — and why now?

With cyber threats evolving rapidly, governments are placing higher emphasis on digital forensics, cyber-crime investigation and the skillsets needed to manage this domain. The MHA’s initiative through I4C reflects this trend and gives students a chance to stand out early in their career. The interdisciplinary eligibility also means that even students from non-technical backgrounds (law, media, sociology) can participate, making it inclusive in scope.