Tathastu ICS · Learning by doing

INTERNSHIPSthat take learning into real life.

Students teach children, work with communities, visit public institutions and explore industry. Every experience gives them something real to bring back to their UPSC preparation.

Intern engaging with a child during community fieldwork
Working with children in the community
Tathastu interns gathered with a public leader
Meeting public leaders
Tathastu interns in a learning activity with children
Learning and teaching together
Students at an e-waste site wearing safety helmets
Exploring industry
Meet public leadersLearn how decisions are made
Work with communitiesUnderstand people beyond textbooks
Grow through real workResearch, teach, write and reflect
Students in public life

Our students are being seen and heard.

Leaders shared moments from the MP LEAD Fellowship.

The central idea of internships

How these experiences shape our students

They go out, do real work and return with examples they can explain in their own words.

Students meeting leaders
01 · See

They see how institutions work

Visits and conversations make governance more than a chapter in a book.

Students and children in a learning activity
02 · Do

They work with people

Teaching and outreach help them understand everyday challenges.

Student taking part in community fieldwork
03 · Grow

They find their own voice

Research, writing and teamwork build confidence for Mains and the Interview.

The UPSC connection

From reading about India to working with India

Books build the base. Internships help students use what they read, test ideas, find facts and explain what they have seen.

With books alone

Read → revise → recall

Students learn the theory and practise remembering key points.

Read a topic
Make notes
Recall facts
With an internship

Read → see → do → explain

Students connect the same topic to people, places and real work.

VisitSee it
ResearchCheck facts
WriteDraft ideas
SpeakExplain clearly

How Internships Are Relevant?

One experience supports every stage of UPSC preparation.

Prelims

Facts are easier to understand and remember.

Mains

Real examples make answers stronger.

Interview

Students can speak from their own experience.

DAF

Work and skills add depth beyond degrees.

Students practise reading, research, writing, speaking and thinking clearly through real work.
Governance and public leadership

MP LEAD Internship & Fellowship Programme

Students research public issues, visit institutions and learn directly from people who work in public life.

MP LEAD fellows during an institutional visitFellows inside a legislative chamberMP LEAD fellows during a parliamentary visit

What do students actually do?

They draft policy papers, prepare Zero Hour questions and write current affairs briefs. They also learn how evidence informs policy formulation. Visits to Parliament, Delhi Vidhan Sabha and other institutions show them how public issues are discussed.

Zero Hour questionsPolicy papersParliament visitPublic speaking

The UPSC connection: Students gain real examples for GS II, GS III, Essay and the Personality Test.

Dr. Ajeet Gopchade SirRajya Sabha MP · Student interaction and mentorship

Students worked on policy papers, research-based writing and presentations.

Aparajita Sarangi Ma’amLok Sabha MP and former IAS officer · Leadership session

Students prepared Zero Hour questions, current affairs briefs and learned about parliamentary work.

NGO and private sector partners

Internships beyond MP LEAD

From teaching children to studying e-waste, these partners give students real work and new ways to understand India.

Survivor support

Chhanv Foundation

Students supported survivor-focused workshops and helped explain digital tools in simple language.

  • Communicated with care and listened closely
  • Prepared reports and awareness material
GS I · GS II · Ethics · Interview
Education and care

Kat-Katha Foundation

Students helped children learn through reading, life-skills and creative activities.

  • Taught in the Bridge School setting
  • Learned what education and empathy look like on the ground
GS II · Ethics · Interview
Community work

TRY NGO

Students worked with communities and supported education and outreach activities.

  • Observed local needs firsthand
  • Worked in teams and reflected on what they learned
GS I · GS II · Interview
Industry and environment

Namo Alloys

Students saw e-waste recycling operations and learned how an industry handles environmental responsibilities.

  • Visited the processing site
  • Prepared field reports and sector analysis
GS III · Interview
Student feedback

What our interns say

These words come from their own accounts. Open a handwritten note to read the fuller story.

They showed me what unconditional love, courage and empathy look like in practice.
— Aditi Tiwari · Kat-Katha intern
This experience taught me how to simplify technical instructions for learners.
— Priyanshu Kesari · Chhanv Foundation internship report
It bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical governance.
— Keshab Adhikari · MP Sankalp internship
I will always remember my interaction with Piyush Goyal Sir, which was an eye-opener on public policy towards trade and commerce.
— MP LEAD Fellow
This is a lifetime opportunity for me.
— MP LEAD Fellow · On an interaction with Santosh Kumar Sarangi Sir, Secretary, MNRE
Student work in the news

Our students are writing for a wider audience

These published pieces show their research, reading and ability to explain complex issues.

Upcoming internship opportunities

Coming next

We will add application details when the new opportunities open.

PartnerOpportunityKey detailsTimeline
CIIInternship with CIIRole, mode and eligibility to be announcedComing soon
VridhCare NGOInternship with VridhCare NGORole, mode and eligibility to be announcedComing soon
KIDYWIDYInternship with KIDYWIDYRole, mode and eligibility to be announcedComing soon
A wider way to prepare

UPSC preparation with real-world learning

Explore Tathastu ICS's BA UPSC and Foundation programmes to see how classroom learning can connect with experiences beyond it.

Explore our programmes ↗