Competition Commission of India Internship 2026

For law students interested in competition law, regulatory practice, or public law, the CCI internship is among the most prestigious government-sector placements available in India. Working directly within a statutory body that investigates cartel behaviour, abuse of dominance, and merger control gives you exposure to live regulatory proceedings that textbooks simply cannot replicate.

The internship is structured around mentorship — each intern is assigned a mentor or guide within the CCI, meaning your learning is guided and purposeful rather than ad hoc. This also means the certificate you receive at the end carries weight: it reflects a confirmed assessment of your performance by a CCI official. On a CV, a CCI internship clearly signals to law firms, in-house teams, and academic institutions that you have engaged seriously with competition law in a professional setting.

Beyond technical skills, the CCI internship places you in New Delhi's regulatory ecosystem, where you can build early connections with practitioners, economists, and policy professionals working at the intersection of law and market regulation — a space that is rapidly growing in India.

The CCI internship is open to Indian nationals only. The programme is specifically designed for students at an advanced stage of their legal education, and the following categories are eligible to apply:

• 3-Year LLB students: Those currently in the second or third year of a Bachelor's degree in Law pursued after graduation.
• 5-Year Integrated Law students: Those in the fourth or final year of a five-year integrated law programme. Students who have appeared in their third-year examination and are entering the fourth year are also eligible.
• LLM students: Postgraduate law students are eligible to apply regardless of their year of study.
• Institution requirement: Applicants must be enrolled at a recognised institution or university, and are expected to have some exposure to competition law as part of their curriculum or through independent study.
• Placement restriction: Students who already have a confirmed placement offer in hand are not eligible to apply.

Students from institutions outside India and those who have already secured placements are expressly excluded. If you are unsure whether your institution qualifies as a recognised university, it is advisable to check with your academic office before applying.

• Application Deadline (Rolling): Applications must reach the CCI by the 1st of the month preceding the month for which the internship is sought. For example, to intern in March, your application must be submitted by 1st February.
• Internship Start Date: The internship commences on the first working day of the applied month.
• Duration: Typically one month; extended internships of 2–3 months are available with institutional recommendation.
• Seats Available: 15 seats per month, offered on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Getting selected and making the most of a CCI internship requires both a strong application and substantive preparation. Here is how to approach both:

• Build foundational knowledge of competition law: Before applying, familiarise yourself with the Competition Act, 2002, and the CCI's mandate. Read publicly available CCI orders and judgements — the CCI website hosts a comprehensive database. This also strengthens your SOP significantly.
• Write a focused SOP: Avoid generic statements about wanting to learn about the legal system. Your Statement of Purpose should reflect specific awareness of competition law concepts — such as cartel enforcement, dominance, or merger review — and connect them to your academic or extracurricular background. Around 200 words means every sentence must count.
• Secure your recommendation early: Institutional recommendations can take time to process through your university's administrative channels. Start this process well before the 1st of the preceding month deadline. A delayed recommendation is one of the most avoidable reasons for missing the deadline.
• Plan your month carefully: Since the internship is primarily offline and based in New Delhi, make sure your academic calendar does not conflict with the internship period. Arrive prepared to engage fully — treat it as a professional assignment, not a college project.
• Do not misrepresent your placement status: If you have received a placement offer, you are ineligible. Misrepresenting this could have serious professional consequences. If your placement status changes before the internship begins, inform the CCI proactively.
• Read recent CCI cases: Being able to discuss current or recent competition law cases in India — especially high-profile matters involving tech companies, pharma, or media — will help you engage meaningfully with your mentor from day one.