To be eligible, an applicant must:-
- be in the age group of 22-27 years
- be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in any recognised university/institution/Research and Development (R&D) laboratory in India
- be an INSPIRE scholar having secured a minimum of 70% marks (or CGPA equivalent) in aggregate at M.Sc. or Integrated M.S./M.Sc. degree OR
- be a 1st rank holder at the university level examination in postgraduate (PG) level examinations in Basic/Applied Sciences including Engineering, Medical, Pharmaceutical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Sciences from any recognised university and academic institution in India OR
- be a 1st rank holder at the graduate/postgraduate level examination in Medicine only conducted by a university/institution in India
The following candidates are not eligible for the fellowship:-
- 1st rank holders in college, including autonomous college examination.
- Candidates who have obtained degree(s) through distance education mode.
- 1st rank holder in any specialisation at M.Sc. degree in second year/last year.
A total of 1,000 fellows will be selected under this scheme. The selected fellows will receive a grant as per Government of India (GoI) norms for a maximum period of five years or completion of the Ph.D. degree (whichever is earlier).
Eligible candidates can apply for the fellowship using the below-mentioned steps:-
Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Click on the 'Register' button and fill in the required details to 'Register'. (Note:- If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID)
Step 3: Navigate to the 'Sign In' section on the right-hand side of the dashboard and click on the 'Register here' button.
Step 4: Provide the required information and select 'Fellowship (PhD)' under the INSPIRE scheme category to register.
Step 5: After successful registration, log in with the valid credentials to proceed with the application process.
Step 6: Fill in the required details, upload the supporting documents, and submit the application form.
Applicants will have to undergo a two-stage selection process:
- Level I: Screening for eligibility
- Level II: Evaluation by a Subject Expert Committee (SEC)
Applicants who are already admitted to a Ph.D. program in Science and Technology (S&T) before submitting the application and selected at both level I & level II, will be awarded the final offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
Applicants who have not been admitted to a Ph.D. program in S&T before applying and get selected at level I, will be awarded a provisional offer for the INSPIRE fellowship.
The provisional offer will be made based on the scrutiny of the application along with the required documents (level I) submitted by the applicant. However, the final offer will be made based on the evaluation of the application at level II considering the following factors:-
- Academic merit
- Host Institution including Research Supervisor profile and
- Detailed Research Proposal by the Subject Expert Committee
At Level II, the applicants are required to secure a qualifying score/cutoff. The cut-off marks may vary based on the competitive framework of the selection process.
Note:- A provisional offer does not guarantee the award of the INSPIRE fellowship. The student is provided with a one-year validity to take admission into a Ph.D. program.