A tech professional's criticism of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) unpaid internship programme has triggered a debate on social media over compensation, accessibility and talent retention at one of India's most respected scientific institutions.
The discussion began after an X user, identified as @cneuralnetwork, shared a screenshot of ISRO's internship guidelines highlighting that project trainees and interns are "not eligible for any stipend/remuneration/financial assistance." The user said joining ISRO had been a childhood ambition but argued that unpaid internships could discourage talented students, particularly those who cannot afford additional expenses.
