A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.
Many law students who are interested in research and analysis prefer to pursue think tank internships during their law school for building their skillset and for having on-ground experience in policy research and similar matters.
In this article, we are highlighting 10 leading think tanks in India where you can apply for an internship. Read on!
1. CENTRE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: Centre for Civil Society is a non-profit think tank based in New Delhi. The Centre was founded in 1997 by Dr. Parth Shah, former Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan. It operates as an independent research and educational organisation.
LOCATION: New Delhi
HOW TO APPLY: To become a part of our team, fill the CCS Internship/Volunteer Application Forms.
For any query please reach out to internship@ccs.in (link sends e-mail)
Application form for law students
Application form for all other students
2. GATEWAY HOUSE
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: Gateway House (Indian Council on Global Relations) is a foreign policy think-tank established in 2009, to engage India’s leading corporations and individuals in debate and scholarship on India’s foreign policy and its role in global affairs. Gateway House executes its mission through a comprehensive website (click here for the site), a robust membership and meetings programme, and the studies programme. Gateway House offers internships for graduate students or graduates pursuing a career in international relations or a related field.
LOCATION: Mumbai
HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a C.V., a covering letter indicating your interest in Gateway House and motivations for working with it, and a recent short writing sample. Once these documents are reviewed internally, Gateway House will contact you for an interview (in person if you’re in Mumbai), or over the telephone. Your application should be emailed to info@gatewayhouse.in with the subject “Internship Application – YOUR NAME”.
3. THINK INDIA
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: Think India is a pan-India initiative to bring together the best minds of the country and to infuse in them a ‘Nation First’ attitude. It is a forum of students, researchers, alumni and faculty members from the premier institutes like IITs, IIMs, NITs, NLUs and other such premier institutes in various fields of academia, across India. Since its inception, Think India has been carrying out various activities in different National Institutes around the country. These activities include talks by experts, seminars, workshop, essay, bill drafting competition, etc. Apart from such events, it also provides internships to students under VIDHI, NITI, ANUBHOOTI, SANSADIYA and International Law Commission internship programs.
LOCATION: Pan-India
HOW TO APPLY: Check the ‘Internship’ section on their official website here- https://www.thinkindiaorg.in/
4. INDIA INSTITUTE
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: India Institute is an international award winning independent, not-for-profit think tank based in Delhi. Started in Nov 2010, it promotes dignity, choice and enterprise through innovative research, evidence- based policy advocacy and litigation for free market policies. School education, Higher education, Law and Property rights are our 4 main focus areas. Our legal research and litigation wing, Centre for Justice, is among the first legal research institutions in the country dedicated to fighting for freedom.
LOCATION: New Delhi
HOW TO APPLY: http://indiai.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Call-for-Applications_CJII_Legal-Intern-Application-1.pdf
5. CENTER FOR HUMAN SECURITY STUDIES (CHSS)
About The Organisation: CHSS is a Human Security Think Tank focused on Internal Security and External Affairs of India. In addition, CHSS is India’s First Mobile Think Tank on Internal Security and External Affairs CHSS is running Online Internship and Executive programs for people from various colleges in India.
LOCATION: Hyderabad
HOW TO APPLY: One can reach them through email at contactchss@gmail.com.
6. PRS LEGISLATIVE
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: PRS Legislative Research, commonly referred to as PRS, is an Indian non-profit organization that was established in September 2005 as an independent research institute to make the Indian legislative process better informed, more transparent, and participatory. PRS is based in New Delhi.
LOCATION: Currently virtual
HOW TO APPLY: You are expected to:
- write a short statement of purpose (not more than 500 words).
- upload an up-to-date resume in PDF format.
- upload a writing sample on any policy issue. (not more than 1000 words) in PDF format.
Reach out to internship@prsindia.org.
7. VIDHI CENTRE FOR LEGAL POLICY
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (‘Vidhi’) is an independent think-tank doing legal research to make better laws and improve governance for the public good. They do this through high quality, peer reviewed original legal research; through engaging with the Government of India, State governments and other public institutions to both inform policy-making and to effectively convert policy into law; and through strategic litigation petitioning courts on important law and policy issues.
LOCATION: Karnataka and Maharashtra
HOW TO APPLY: careers@vidhilegalpolicy.in
8. IDFC INSTITUTE
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: IDFC Institute has been set up as a research-focused think / do tank by IDFC Ltd to investigate the political, economic and spatial dimensions of India’s ongoing transition from a low-income state-led country to a prosperous market-based economy. Broadly, it supports the notion of well–regulated free markets, and support inquiry into practices that result in greater, more efficient and equitable development.
LOCATION: Mumbai
HOW TO APPLY: To apply for an internship, write to IDFC Institute at contact@idfcinstitute.org and attach your résumé and a brief writing sample, not exceeding two A4 sides.
9. MANOHAR PARRIKAR INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSIS (MP-IDSA)
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (MP-IDSA) is India’s premier multidisciplinary and forward-looking security policy think-tank. Started in 1965 the Institute is home to scholars and analysts from all over the world and provides a platform for bringing together innovative thinkers from a range of disciplines and subject areas including international relations, area studies, military affairs, energy, climate change, economics, social sciences, and science and technology.
LOCATION: Delhi
HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants need to submit the following: 1. Curriculum vitae 2. Two reference letters 3. Statement of purpose (The statement should clearly mention the name of the Centre that the candidate wishes to be associated with and the proposed start and end dates of the internship). 4. At least two writing samples (published /unpublished manuscript) each not exceeding 3,000 – 5,000 words The above documents along with a covering letter may be sent to hr.idsa@nic.in
10. INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS NETWORK
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION: IPAN was founded by its current President Kshitij Bansal. As an active student of International Law and Global Governance with a very wide exposure to public policy research and youth activism, Bansal conceptualised the idea of starting Asia’s first youth-led public policy think tank in November, 2011.
LOCATION: Remote and Virtual Internships
HOW TO APPLY: IPAN only accepts applications sent electronically through the online application system given below. We do not accept direct mailings or in-person paper submissions. The applicant must upload the following documents (in pdf format): A formal, two-page CV (CVs more than two-pages will be liable for an automatic rejection) A Writing Sample (1000 – 1250 words) related to any relevant topic which can be an excerpt from a larger published work, university project report, a blog piece, an essay, a letter to the editor for a newspaper, an article in your school’s magazine, etc. Please provide a couple of sentences of context if you’re excerpting your selection from a larger piece. The important thing is for us to get a sense of the applicant’s linguistic proficiency and research abilities. A Letter of Motivation of not more than 350 words explaining your motivation and objective behind applying for this programme.
Visit here: https://www.ipan.in/
YLCC would like to thank Sachet Labroo for his valuable insight in this article.
