Latest Update – Nominations for the INSPIRE-MANAK program are now open until October 10, 2026. Students who are eligible can CLICK HERE .
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Detailed Overview
| Scholarship Name | INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) |
| Provider | Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India |
| Mode of Application | Online through the INSPIRE Online Portal |
| Application Level | National (applicable across India) |
| Selection Process | Based on academic merit and verification of uploaded documents |
| Duration | Up to 5 years or until course completion, whichever is earlier |
| Renewal | Subject to maintaining good academic performance and submission of required documents annually |
| Official Website | INSPIRE Online Portal |
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
The applicants who are interested in applying for INSPIRE Scholarship, must fulfill the following academic requirements:
1. Top 1% in Class 12 Board Exams: Meritorious students with aggregate marks within the top 1% of their Class 12 examination from any State/Central Education Board in India, and pursuing Natural and Basic Sciences at the B.Sc., B.S., and Integrated M.Sc./M.S. level.
OR
2. JEE/NEET ranks: Students who secured a rank within the top 10,000 in JEE (Main/Advanced) or AIPMT/NEET and are presently pursuing Natural and Basic Science courses at B.Sc., B.S., or Integrated M.Sc./M.S. level.
OR
3. Direct entries at premier institutes: Students within the top 1% of Class 12 Board exams and pursuing Integrated M.Sc. in Natural and Basic Sciences at IISERs, NISER, Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences – University of Mumbai, and Visva-Bharati, Shanti Niketan.
OR
OR
5. Other recognised scholars: Students who are NTSE scholars, JBNSTS scholars, or International Olympiad medallists pursuing Bachelor’s/Master’s level courses in Natural Sciences.
Age criteria: Applicants must be in the 17–22 years age group.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Eligible Streams
The scholarship supports courses only in the Natural and Basic Sciences. Eligible subjects include:
| Physics | Chemistry |
| Mathematics | Biology |
| Statistics | Geology |
| Astrophysics | Astronomy |
| Electronics | Botany |
| Zoology | Biochemistry |
| Anthropology | Microbiology |
| Geophysics | Geochemistry |
| Atmospheric Sciences | Oceanic Sciences |
| Ecology | Marine Biology |
| Genetics | Biophysics |
Not supported: Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Life Sciences (Seed Technology, Home Science), Geography, Economics, Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed.), Biotechnology, Computer Science, IT, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, Distance Education, Physical Education, and professional/vocational courses.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Benefits
Reward Breakdown for SHE Scholarship
| Component | Amount | Details & Requirements |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹5,000 / month | Totalling ₹60,000 annually |
| Summer Mentorship Grant | ₹20,000 / year | Disbursed upon undertaking a summer project under an active researcher at a recognised centre in India |
| Total Annual Value | ₹80,000 | Requires submission of the final Project Report and Mentor Certificate |
Mode of payment: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the scholar’s State Bank of India (SBI) savings account. Joint accounts or accounts in other banks are not accepted. The account must be Aadhaar-linked.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Tenure
The scholarship is available for a maximum of 5 years, starting from the 1st year of B.Sc./B.S./Int. M.Sc./M.S. course or until completion of the course, whichever is earlier.
Continuation depends on academic performance: at least 60% marks or GPA ≥ 7.0 (on 10-point scale) in the first attempt of annual/semester examinations.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Selection Process
The selection for INSPIRE Scholarship is based on merit and follows these steps:
- Application Screening: Eligibility and document verification.
- Merit List Generation: Based on Class 12 marks, JEE/NEET ranks, or eligibility under KVPY/NTSE/JBNSTS/Olympiads.
- Provisional Offer: Selected candidates will receive an offer letter in their INSPIRE Web Portal account.
- Final Award: Confirmation after uploading the required documents within the deadline.
Note: In case of more than 10,000 eligible applications, selection will be made using the Board Inclusive Model on a pro-rata basis across State/Central Boards.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted online only through the INSPIRE Web Portal:
Steps to apply:
- Visit the INSPIRE portal and click ‘New User? Register here’.
- Fill out the registration form, submit it, and activate the account via the email link.
- Log in using registered credentials.
- Click on ‘Scholarship’ → ‘Apply for Scholarship’.
- Fill in required details, upload scanned documents in the prescribed format, and submit.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Documents Required
Applicants must upload the following documents (PDF/JPEG format, size ≤ 1 MB):
- Passport-size photograph (JPEG, 50 KB)
- Class 10 Marksheet/Certificate (proof of date of birth)
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Endorsement Certificate (signed by Principal/Director/Registrar in prescribed format)
- Eligibility/Advisory Note (if issued by the Board, optional)
- Certificates for JEE/NEET/KVPY/NTSE/JBNSTS/Olympiad eligibility (if applicable)
- Community/Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- First page of SBI bank passbook (signed copy, for DBT transfer)
- Any other relevant supporting documents
Document formats available on portal:
- Endorsement Form (B.Sc. students)
- Enrolment Form (M.Sc. students)
- Project Completion Certificate Format
- Performance Report Format (for continuation)
INSPIRE Scholarship – Summer Research Projects
- Every scholar must undertake 6–8 weeks of summer research at a recognised research centre in India, outside their parent institution.
- A mentorship grant of ₹20,000 per year is provided.
- Upon completion, scholars must submit the following:
- Project report (including objectives, methods, results, and duration)
- Attested certificate from the research guide
- Group projects are not accepted.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Continuation T&C
- Scholars must maintain ≥60% marks or GPA ≥7.0 in each academic year’s first attempt.
- Documents required yearly:
- Annual Performance Report (signed by the Head of Institution)
- Original/self-attested marksheets
- Failure, absence from exams, or delay beyond 12 months in submitting documents will result in the forfeiture of the scholarship for that year.
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 – Contact Details
INSPIRE Programme Division
Department of Science and Technology
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road,
New Delhi – 110016
Email ID: inspire.prog-dst@nic.in | Contact Number: (0124)-669002/6690021
Website URL: www.online-inspire.gov.in
Inspire Scholarship 2026 – FAQs
What is the INSPIRE Scholarship amount and eligibility?
The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), run by DST, offers ₹80,000 annually to meritorious students in Natural and Basic Sciences. Eligible applicants include top 1% Class 12 students, JEE/NEET top rankers, and NTSE, KVPY, JBNSTS or Olympiad scholars aged 17–22 years.
How do I register/apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship online?
To apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship, visit online-inspire.gov.in, click “New User? Register Here,” and create a profile using a valid email and phone number. Log in, complete personal and academic details accurately, review, and submit the INSPIRE Scholarship application form.
What is the last date to apply for INSPIRE Scholarship 2026?
INSPIRE Scholarship 2026 registration dates are announced annually on the official DST INSPIRE portal, online-inspire.gov.in. Applicants should regularly check the portal for the current cycle’s notification, as INSPIRE Scholarship deadlines vary each academic year and are strictly enforced.
How do I check my INSPIRE Scholarship application status/result?
Applicants can check their INSPIRE Scholarship status by logging into online-inspire.gov.in with their registered credentials. Selection results, including provisionally selected applicants under INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education, are published on the same portal each academic cycle for verification.
How do I renew my INSPIRE Scholarship for the next academic year?
INSPIRE Scholarship renewal requires submitting a Performance Report along with an Endorsement Form each year via the online-inspire.gov.in portal. Continuation of the INSPIRE Scholarship depends on maintaining eligibility criteria and timely submission of required academic documents.