Professor J Ramkumar, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Design Program, IIT Kanpur, organized a two-month Virtual Internship Program (an AICTE initiative in association with IITs and IISERs) for students currently enrolled in both the AICTE approved and non-approved institutions at Jammu & Kashmir. The program opening ceremony was marked by the address of Professor J Ramkumar, and an inspirational talk by Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, and Professor A. Raina, Dean of Academic Affairs, IIT Kanpur. The objective of this scheme was to provide exposure to Jammu and Kashmir youth to academic culture at Institutions of Higher learning. 18 students were shortlisted including eight girls from the extensive list of applicants from various engineering and science disciplines like Civil, Electrical, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics. 12 Ph.D. students at IIT Kanpur, including three females, mentored the undergraduate students; each participant was assigned to a mentor according to their field of interest. As part of the internship, students got exposure to research activities at IIT Kanpur. Every week, guest lectures on the general and latest technological advancements were conducted. Seven out of eight lectures were on different industry innovation topics like modern supply chain, drone innovation, sustainable development, and the last guest lecture was organized on ‘Art and Craft.’ The lectures even had a discussion on the exchange of cultures, and some leisure activities.

All students had actively participated in these sessions. After each lecture session, we organized an informal interaction as a happy hour to motivate them to show students' talent and had discussions in career planning with the mentors. The mentors also discussed the admission process and different internship programs at IITs. Students had constructive interactions with their mentors regarding further research and funding opportunities for their ideas where the mentors also motivated the participants towards innovation and taking the lead in start-ups.

The closing ceremony of the two months long internship program was on 26th March 2021. Professor A. Raina, who is born and brought up in Kashmir, and is the first female Dean at IIT Kanpur graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Prof. J. Ramkumar delivered a final vote of thanks to all. Dr. Amandeep Singh, who coordinated and managed the program execution was also present during. Overall, the whole two months event has been remarkable in bringing inspiration and stimulus in the students, and the organizers.