Inspire Scholarship

Inspire Scholarship

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INSPIRE Scholarships are awarded to students from standard 6 to Ph.D. who are passionate about learning science. There are three schemes under the scholarships, namely Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS) for school students, Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) for graduate and postgraduate students, and Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) for doctoral and postdoctoral students.

Since our focus is on higher education scholarships, we are detailing the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE). 10,000 students of the age group 17 - 22 are selected every year for the scholarship and are provided mentorship support. Selected students can do their project work abroad in the 4th or 5th year of the scholarship.

Scholarship details
Offered by  Department of Science & Technology, Government of India 
Amount granted  ₹80,000 (₹60,000 in cash + ₹20,000 for summer projects) annually for upto 5 years
Type of scholarship Merit-based
Level of program Undergraduate & Graduate
Application deadline October 31, 2025
International students Indian students
Official URL Apply now

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What are the Benefits of the INSPIRE Scholarship?

The INSPIRE scheme in India offers numerous advantages to students, researchers, and the scientific community:

1. Financial Support: Provides scholarships and fellowships to students facing financial difficulties, helping to alleviate their financial constraints.

2. Research Opportunities: Offers research internships, fellowships, and mentorships, allowing students to gain practical, hands-on research experience.

3. Guidance from Experts: Connects students with experienced scientists and researchers who can offer guidance and inspiration in their scientific endeavors.

4. Research Infrastructure: Supports the development of research infrastructure and facilities at universities, contributing to the nation's advancement.

5. Encouraging Innovation: Moulds young minds by fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for research and innovation, building a strong foundation for future scientific contributions.

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What is the Eligibility Criteria for the INSPIRE Scholarship?

To avail the benefits of this scholarship, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • list items Be between the ages of 17 and 22 years.
  • list items Be among the top 1% of meritorious 12th-class students from state or central board schools.
  • list items Have a rank within the top 10,000 in JEE or NEET.
  • list items Be pursuing a BSc, BS, or International MSc/MS in fundamental and natural sciences.
  • list items Be admitted into IISER, NISER, DAE-CBS, or be a KVPY, JBNSTS, NTSE scholar, or an International Olympiad medalist pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate courses in basic or natural sciences.
  • list items The course must be regular in nature.

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Courses Eligible 

This Scholarship aims to promote the research aptitude in students of the following science subjects:

 

Courses
Maths Geology Oceanic Studies
Biochemistry Geochemistry Botany
Microbiology Anthropology Geophysics
Astrophysics Atmospheric Sciences Zoology
Electronics Statistics Astronomy

Apart from these courses mentioned above 8 new subject areas are eligible at the postgraduate level: 

1. Biostatistics

2. Bioinformatics

3. Biotechnology

4. Data Science

5. Environmental Science

6. Materials Science

7. Nano Science

8. Remote Sensing and GIS

Courses other than these subjects such as Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Seed Technology, Home Science, Geography, Economics, 2 Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree course), Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, Information Technology, Physical Education, courses in Distance Education mode at the Open Universities and other professional courses etc. are NOT supported.

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What is the Application Process for the INSPIRE Scholarship?

To apply for the Scholarship for Higher Education, students should follow the steps listed below:

1. Register on the website and login using your email, name, date of birth and verification CAPTCHA.

2. Access the portal by using the registered email id as the user name and the registered password for logging in.

3. A screen will be displayed where you need to select the "Scholarship" link.

4. After clicking on the "Scholarship" link, you will see the "Apply for Scholarship" button, which you should click.

5. Proceed to fill in the required fields like personal details, senior secondary and higher education details, contact information, national level competitive exam details, and more one by one by clicking on the "EDIT" button.

6. Scan and upload the required documents in required format and within the limit of 50 KB - 1 MB. 

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What are the Documents Required for the INSPIRE Scholarship?

You need to scan and upload the following documents

Document Type Maximum Size
Passport size photograph JPEG 50 KB
Community/Caste Certificate (only if the applicant belongs to OBC/SC/ST) PDF 1 MB
Eligibility Note/Advisory Note if provided by the State/Central Board PDF 1 MB
Class XII Mark sheet PDF 1 MB
Class X Mark sheet or Certificate (for proof of Date of Birth) PDF 1 MB
Certificate specifying Rank or Award in JEE (Main)/ JEE (Advanced)/ NEET/ KVPY /JBNSTS/ NTSE/ International Olympic Medallists [If the candidate is eligible under this criteria] PDF 1 MB
Endorsement Form signed by the Principal of the College/Director of the Institute/Registrar of the University PDF 1 MB
Any other supporting documents PDF 1 MB
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What is the Selection Process for the INSPIRE Scholarship?

The selection of beneficiaries for this scholarship for higher education is done based on the following parameters: 

1. Academic excellence.

2. Top scorers in entrance exams like JEE, AIEEE, CBSE-Medical, etc.

3. Students admitted to top institutes - IITs, IISER, NISER, and DAE-CBS.

4. Scholars of KVPY, NTSE, JBNSTS, and Olympiad medalists. 

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Renewal of INSPIRE Scholarship

The renewal of the scholarship is a crucial part of the overall scheme and it is based on the philosophy that a student must be consistent in his academics. Students are not only expected to be brilliant before taking the scholarship, rather the aim is to shape that brilliance even further. Thus the government regularly monitors the performance of the students and then moves ahead with the renewal of the scholarship. 

The scholarship renewal for successive years is pivoted around the following factors:

1. The student must have shown a brilliant academic record while continuing the study at the institution. 

2. The student must be recommended by the head of the institution for the renewal of the scholarship.

3. The grades received in an academic year also play an important role in taking the final call on the renewal of the scholarship.

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How can I Contact the Department for the INSPIRE Scholarship?

To get your questions and queries answered, you can contact the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India by using the following contact details:

Email: inspire.prog-dst@nic.in

Contact Number: 0120-4619405, 0120-4619406 (Helpline no. for Scholarship)

Address: INSPIRE Program Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110016

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tenure for the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)? 
 

The Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) is available for a maximum of 5 years. 

How will I know if I am selected for the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)? 
 

Selected students for the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) will be notified and receive a provisional offer letter on their web portal account. Those students must download the offer letter and submit the required documents within the timeframe mentioned in the offer letter. 

How the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) funds are released? 
 

The funds for Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) are released annually after analyzing the student’s annual mark sheets. 

How much time does it take to process the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) application? 
 

Usually, 3 - 4 months are required to process the application and release the scholarship amount. 

What if the student fails in any subject in any semester? Will the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) be discontinued? 
 

If applicants do not secure a 60% or 7.0/10 GPA for an academic year or fail in any subjects, the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) for that academic year shall be forfeited. 

What if I take a one-year break before joining MSc? Will the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) be continued? 
 

If you discontinue your studies for a year, you will not receive the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE).

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