Delhi students embrace internship culture, 81.48% ready for jobs: Report

Delhi’s youth are fast adapting to the changing employment landscape, with 81.48 per cent of students in the Capital expressing interest in pursuing internships before joining full-time roles, according to the India Skill Report 2025.

The trend reflects a competitive urban job readiness environment, where students see internships as the key to bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world skills.

The national report, revealed that over 93 per cent of Indian students across states now prioritised internship experience over immediate employment, a clear sign that India’s job market is shifting towards a skills-first economy.

In Delhi, this shift is particularly visible in engineering, management, media and design institutes, where students are increasingly demanding structured internship programmes.

“Delhi’s students understand that the first job is not just about a salary, it’s about learning, exposure and growth, most of them prefer to intern first because it gives them clarity on what kind of work they actually want to do,” Ritika Meena, a career counsellor, said.

The report also noted that the Capital continued to be among the most employable regions in the country, with over 81 per cent job readiness compared to the national average of 54.81 per cent. Experts attribute this to the city’s diverse academic institutions, thriving startup ecosystem and easy access to internship opportunities in government, corporate and nonprofit sectors.

“Internships give us real experience and help us build confidence before entering the job market, many of us see internships as a chance to prove our abilities and understand how industries work,” Arun Mishra, a third year student at Delhi Technological University, said.

While internship enthusiasm is high, the report also points to rising expectations among students, with nearly half of the respondents nationwide hoping for annual packages between Rs 26–33 lakh for their first jobs, a figure industry experts say reflects aspiration over market reality.

Career advisors suggest that Delhi students balance ambition with realism. “Internships are great for skill-building, but salary expectations must align with the job market,” said Meena. As the internship boom continues, universities across Delhi, from DU to private institutions, are integrating experiential learning, project-based modules and credit-linked internships into their curricula.