Top IIT, IIM students to intern at Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 to manage logistics
In a rare blend of culture and civic learning, students from India's top institutions -- including the IITs, IIMs, and major policy schools -- will head to Puri, Odisha, this year to be part of the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025. But they won't be there as pilgrims -- they'll be working behind the scenes as interns on one of the country's biggest and most complex spiritual events.advertisementThis first-of-its-kind Public Systems and Infrastructure Internship is being organised by the Puri District Administration to give students hands-on experience with real-world public management at an unprecedented scale.WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AT INDIA'S LARGEST YATRAThe selected students will spend 10-15 days in Puri, working across live projects in sanitation infrastructure, crowd behaviour analysis, emergency response systems, seva stall operations, and even digital citizen engagement.
They'll study how public systems function in high-pressure environments and how multiple agencies work together to manage millions of people.Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain (IAS) called the yatra 'an exercise in scale, devotion, and coordination,' adding that it's high time India's brightest minds 'saw what nation-building looks like in the field.'These real-time learnings will be converted into on-ground insights and improvement suggestions, which could be used in planning future editions of the Rath Yatra and similar mass events.SEVA THROUGH SYSTEM BUILDINGadvertisementThe programme goes beyond just observation. Interns will actively contribute to the field -- helping streamline key aspects of the yatra while also learning about governance, grassroots challenges, and on-the-fly decision-making.The idea is to introduce young minds to 'Seva through System Building' -- where service is not just about volunteering, but building better systems for the people.Applications for the internship have already started pouring in from across India. Students are keen to be part of this unique opportunity, where logistics, tradition, and civic learning come together.POWERED BY CHAAIPANIThe entire internship will be facilitated by Chaaipani, a branding and storytelling agency exclusively handling brand activations for this year's yatra.Founder Shruti Chaturvedi said, 'This is a rare opportunity for students to learn how logistics, culture, systems, and human behaviour in India operate at an unprecedented scale. We're proud to help build a bridge between India's brightest students and its most powerful grassroots realities.'By allowing students to engage with real-world problems in a deeply rooted cultural event, Odisha is setting an example in civic innovation and inclusive leadership. This initiative not only celebrates spiritual heritage but also encourages India's future leaders to roll up their sleeves and get involved in real change.Must Watch
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Time of India
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Graduates must take ownership of their upskilling, universities must adapt to technological shifts, and employers must invest in nurturing raw talent. The class of 2026 stands at a crossroads. Will they be job-ready innovators or degree-holding spectators in India's growth story? The answer lies in action, not just academic achievement. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
