INSPIRE Scholarship Program – Eligibility, Online Application & Selection Process

INSPIRE Scholarship Program – “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)” is an innovative programme that is sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology to attract talent to Science. The INSPIRE Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships available for students who are willing to pursue their careers in natural and basic sciences. The Government of India approved the INSPIRE Scheme in November 2008. This initiative encourages meritorious students to take up scientific research and contribute to the nation’s development in science and technology.

Scholarship Registration and Login

The INSPIRE program offers scholarships, internships, and awards at different stages of education, catering to students from school level to doctoral research. Among these, the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) is specifically designed to support undergraduate and postgraduate students.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore all aspects of the INSPIRE Scholarship, including its objectives, eligibility criteria, application process, benefits, renewal process, and much more.

INSPIRE Scholarship – An Overview!

Particulars Details
Scholarship Name INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
Provider Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India
Objective To promote scientific talent and encourage students to pursue careers in basic and natural sciences
Eligibility Criteria – Indian citizens

– Top 1% of students in Class 12 exams

– Pursuing B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc., Int. M.S.

Competitive Exams Considered JEE (Main/Advanced), NEET, KVPY
Eligible Courses B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc., Int. M.S. degree in Natural and Basic Sciences
Amount of Scholarship Amount of ₹80,000 (₹60,000 in cash + ₹20,000 for summer projects) annually
Duration Up to 5 years or until completion of the course
Official Website INSPIRE Online Portal

Latest Update: The applications for Inspire Scholarships has been closed for the academic session 2024.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Objective 

The primary goal of the INSPIRE Scholarship is to create a talent pool of young scientists who are motivated to pursue careers in science and research. The specific objectives include the following:

  • Promotion of Science Education: To encourage students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses in natural and basic sciences by providing financial support.
  • Strengthening of Research Ecosystem: To create a research-friendly environment where the students can engage in innovation and scientific research early in their academic careers.
  • Developing Talent for National Growth: To promote scientific talent that can contribute to national development and technological advancements.
  • Addressing Shortage of Scientists: With the decreasing number of students opting for careers in science, this scholarship seeks to reverse the trend by making science an attractive career option.
  • Global Competitiveness: To help India compete globally in scientific research by nurturing students to become world-class scientists and innovators.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Eligibility Criteria

Career Assessment Test

The applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria. Key eligibility requirements to qualify for the INSPIRE Scholarship are as follows:

  • The meritorious students with aggregate marks within the top 1% of their Class 12 examination of any State/Central Education Board in India are eligible. In addition, the student must be pursuing courses in Natural and Basic Sciences at the B.Sc., B.S., and Integrated M.Sc./M.S. level.   

               Or

  • Those students who have secured ranks in the JEE of IIT, AIPMT (within the top 10,000 ranks), and are presently pursuing Natural and Basic Sciences courses in India at the B.Sc., B.S., Integrated M.Sc./M.S. level.

              Or

  • Those students with aggregate marks within the top 1% of their Class 12 examination of any State/Central Education Board in India and pursuing Integrated M.Sc. courses in Natural and Basic Sciences at IISERs, NISER, and Department of Atomic Energy Centre for the Basic Sciences – University of Mumbai, Visva-Bharati, and Shanti Niketan.   

              Or

  • Those students who have been selected under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) and pursuing Bachelor/Master’s level courses in Natural Sciences.   

              Or

  • National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholars, Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) scholars, and International Olympiad medallists pursuing Bachelor’s/Master’s level courses in Natural Sciences are also eligible. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Eligible Streams

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Environmental Science
  • Geology
  • Statistics
  • Astronomy
  • Electronics
  • Other Core Science Subjects

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The courses other than Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Life Sciences (including Seed Technology and Home Science), Geography, Economics, Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree course), Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, Information Technology, Physical Education, and the courses offered through Distance Education at Open Universities, and similar professional programs are not supported.

Also Read: KVB Scholarship Program – Walk on to New Career Horizons

INSPIRE Scholarship – Benefits

Each successful applicant will receive an annual scholarship of ₹5,000 per month with a total value of ₹60,000. All the SHE scholars are required to undertake summer research projects under an active researcher in any of the recognised research centres across India. A summertime mentorship grant of   

₹20,000 will be transferred to the scholar’s State Bank of India (SBI) bank account directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode every year.   

INSPIRE Scholarship – Selection Process

The selection process for the INSPIRE Scholarship is purely based on merit. It is as follows:

  1. Initial Screening: All applications are screened for eligibility criteria such as academic qualifications and enrollment in eligible courses.
  2. Merit List Generation: A merit list is generated on the basis of a student’s performance in their Class 12 Board exams and performance in competitive exams like JEE or NEET.
  3. Final Selection: The shortlisted candidates are contacted for document verification and are officially awarded the scholarship after successful verification.

The entire selection process is designed to be transparent, ensuring that only the most deserving candidates are awarded the scholarship.

INSPIRE Scholarship – How to Apply?

The applicants who wish to apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship (SHE) can adhere to the following:

Step 1: Visit the official INSPIRE Scholarship Portal.

INSPIRE Scholarship - How to Apply

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘New User? Register here’ option on the right-hand side of the dashboard and click on it.

INSPIRE Scholarship - New User

Step 3: Fill in the required details and click on the submit button at the bottom of the page to ‘Register‘.

INSPIRE Scholarship - Register

Step 4: After successful registration, the applicants will receive a confirmation mail on the registered email ID with the activation link. Click the activation link to proceed. 

Step 5: Log in on the portal using the registered email ID and password. 

Step 6: Click on the ‘Scholarship‘ link.

Step 7: Click on ‘Apply for Scholarship‘.

Step 8: Fill in all required details, upload the scanned copy of all supporting documents in the prescribed format and submit the application form. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Documents Required

The applicants are required to submit the following documents in the specified format:

 Name of the Document    

Type

      Size
Passport size photograph (mandatory*) JPEG 50 KB
Class 10 Marksheet or Certificate for proof of Date of Birth (mandatory*) PDF 1 MB
Class 12 Marksheet (mandatory*) PDF 1 MB
Endorsement form signed by Principal of College/Director of Institute/Registrar of University (mandatory*) PDF 1 MB
Eligibility Note/Advisory Note, if provided by the State/Central Board (not mandatory) PDF 1 MB
Certificate specifying Rank or Award in IIT-JEE/AIPMT/NEET/JBNSTS/NTSE/International Olympic Medalists (if applicable) PDF 1 MB
Community/Caste Certificate (if applicable) PDF 1 MB
Any other supporting document PDF 1 MB

Formats for Documents:

Guidelines for Filling the Online Application

  • The scholarship applications must be submitted through online mode only. 
  • The applicants are advised to print a copy of the submitted online application for their records. They should not send applications or any other documents by post.
  • Use a valid and functional email address for submitting the online application. The status of the application will be communicated only through the INSPIRE Web Portal. The applicants are required to log in to their registered account to view the status.
  • Incomplete or incorrectly filled applications or applications lacking essential documents will be summarily rejected.
  • Do not submit more than one application. Please ensure all aspects of the application are correct before submitting.
  • The endorsement form template is also available on the INSPIRE-SHE announcement. The applicants can download the endorsement form from the INSPIRE portal.
  • Any legal proceedings regarding any claim or dispute arising from this advertisement and/or application can be lodged only in Delhi Courts/Tribunals/Forums. 
  • Only Delhi Courts/Tribunals/Forums shall have the sole and exclusive jurisdiction to try any case/dispute.

Also Read: Income Proof Requirements: Submission Guidelines

INSPIRE Scholarship – Contact Details

In case of any query or problem, the applicants may reach out through post, email, or call using the contact details provided below.

INSPIRE Programme Division

Department of Science and Technology,

Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road,

New Delhi – 110016

Email ID: inspire.prog-dst@nic.in | Telephone Number: (0124)-669002/6690021

CLICK HERE for Post-Offer Implementation Guidelines for Scholarship Holders

INSPIRE Scholarship – FAQs

What is the basic objective of the ‘Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)’ scheme?

One of the most fundamental objectives of the ‘Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)’ scheme is to communicate to the youth the excitement of pursuing science. INSPIRE attracts and nurtures young bright students to study basic and natural sciences at the college and university level.

What is the SHE component of the INSPIRE program? How many scholarships are awarded every year?

The SCHOLARSHIP for HIGHER EDUCATION (SHE) component of the INSPIRE aims to encourage meritorious students to study basic and natural sciences at undergraduate level through attractive scholarship and mentorship opportunities. Under the SHE component 12,000 scholarships are offered every year to meritorious students in the age group 17-22 years.

What are the major components of the INSPIRE scheme?

The INSPIRE scheme has three major components. They are as under:

  • Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent  (SEATS)
  • Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
  • Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC).

The component wise details can be found on https://online-inspire.gov.in/content/INSPIRE_Brochure.pdf for more clarity.

What are the courses that qualify for the INSPIRE Scholarship program?

The INSPIRE Scholarship program supports undergraduate (B.Sc./B.S.) and integrated postgraduate (Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S.) programs in the following basic and natural science courses:

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Biology
  • Statistics
  • Geology
  • Astrophysics
  • Astronomy
  • Electronics
  • Botany
  • Zoology
  • Biochemistry
  • Anthropology
  • Microbiology
  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry
  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Oceanic Sciences  

It must be pointed out that the scholarship does not cover courses in other fields, such as Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Seed Technology, Home Science, Geography, Economics, Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree), Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, Information Technology, Physical Education, Distance Education programs offered by Open Universities, or similar professional programs.  

What are the benefits of the INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship?

The INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship provides the following benefits:

  • Annual Scholarship: ₹80,000 per year, paid in monthly installments of ₹5,000
  • Summer Research Project: To be undertaken under an active researcher at a recognised research center in India
  • Summer Mentorship Grant: ₹20,000 per year

The scholars must submit a project report and a certificate from their mentor upon completion of the summer research project.

What is the basis of implementation of the INSPIRE scheme?

The implementation of INSPIRE Scheme is a fully automated process through INSPIRE Web-portal. https://www.online-inspire.gov.in is the online link of the INSPIRE Web-portal.

When will I be intimated of my selection?

Due to the high volume of applications, the selection process for the INSPIRE Scholarship typically takes at least four months from the application deadline. All selected candidates will receive a Provisional Offer Letter on their web portal account, informing them that they have been awarded the scholarship. Provisionally selected students must log in to the online portal to download the offer letter. The list of selected and rejected students will also be displayed on the homepage of the INSPIRE Web Portal. The selected candidates will need to upload the required documents to their web portal within the specified time limit (as mentioned in the offer letter) for further consideration by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

When will the scholarship be awarded?

The scholarship will be awarded only after the first-year B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc./M.S. performance reports and mark sheets are approved, confirming satisfactory academic performance. Subsequently, the scholarship amount for the second year (₹1,20,000) will be disbursed during the scholar’s second year of the B.Sc./Int. M.Sc. program. In subsequent years, scholarship fund disbursement will happen upon approval of yearly performance reports and mark sheets.

Disclaimer

  1. Source of Information: Buddy4Study app compiles details on scholarships/fellowships from government websites and private scholarship sources. Links to the official sources accompany each listing detail pages.
  2. Non-affiliation: The Buddy4Study app is not associated with any government entity in India or elsewhere. When featuring government scholarships, we rely on publicly accessible information from central and state government websites in India.

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