Hans News Service Bhubaneswar

Morethan 1.18 lakh students from various higher educational institutions in Odisha have been provided internship and community service opportunities as per NEP-2020 during the academic year 2025–26, an official statement said on Friday. As per the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 and the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), undergraduate students are required to undertake internships and community service during the fourth semester.

In this context, the Higher Education department of Odisha has engaged over 1.18 lakh undergraduate students in internships and community service programmes during the academic session 2025-26. The internship programme duration was six weeks, during which students received mentorship and practical training.

Internship opportunities have been provided in government offices, educational institutions, Anganwadi centres, Panchayat Samiti offices, health centres, financial institutions, private organisations and NGOs functioning under various government departments. As per the guidelines issued for the internship programme, the students will be awarded academic credits based on their attendance, presentations, weekly reports and overall performance during the internship. These credits will also be reflected in their Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). Certificates will be awarded to students upon successful completion of the internship programme, the statement said. This year, the highest participation in internships has been recorded from the districts of Ganjam, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack and Bolangir.

The students have been placed in offices functioning under departments such as Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Higher Education, and School and Mass Education.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that priority is being given to quality and research-oriented education in higher educational institutions. Through internships and community service, the students will gain practical exposure and understand grassroots-level functioning and administrative processes, he said.