INSPIRE Scholarship

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research, or INSPIRE scholarship is a flagship programme by the Department of Science & Technology of the Government of India. The INSPIRE Scholarship 2024 is intended for exceptional students enrolled in bachelor's and master's programs in Natural and Basic Sciences. This scholarship program awards a total of 10,000 scholarships annually. Each selected recipient, through the SHE scholarship, is granted an annual scholarship of INR 80,000 to support their studies in any field within the Natural or Basic Sciences.

The INSPIRE Scheme is aimed at cultivating and bolstering the essential human resource pool required to fortify the country's science and technology ecosystem while expanding its research and development foundation. A distinctive feature of the INSPIRE scholarship programme is that it refrains from organizing competitive examinations to identify talent at any level. Instead, it places its trust in the efficiency of the existing educational system for talent recognition.

Here, we will be comprehensively reviewing the INSPIRE scholarship covering aspects like who is eligible for the programme, the application process, rewards, and the benefits that can potentially help students pursuing higher education.

Under the INSPIRE scholarship 2024, the Department of Science & Technology is offering various schemes to deserving young people interested in pursuing science, from high school through college and beyond. They are encouraged to choose scientific research as a career by this scholarship. This is accomplished by supporting numerous initiatives that improve human potential, such as awarding fellowships, scholarships, and training opportunities for research exposure.

This programme is crafted to draw and support meritorious students, inspiring them to explore the fields of basic and natural sciences throughout their college and graduate studies. Additionally, it encourages them to pursue research professions in a variety of fields, such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary science, and basic and applied sciences. The following schemes fall under the INSPIRE programme.

The INSPIRE scholarship selection process primarily involves the academic excellence of meritorious individuals. To be considered eligible for the INSPIRE SHE Scholarship, candidates must meet the following eligibility requirements, which include:

• Applicants must have successfully completed their Class 12 education.
• They should have pursued courses in Natural Sciences at either the B.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. level.
• Applicants should fall within the age bracket of 17 to 22 years.
• Candidates must rank in the top 1% of students based on their aggregate marks in the Class 12 board examination.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in Natural and Basic Sciences courses at the BSc, BS, or Integrated MSc/MS level, with this enrollment occurring in the same year they completed their Class 12.
• Candidates who have achieved top rankings in competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination of IIT, AIEEE (top 20,000 rankers), and have cleared CBSE-Medical (AIPTM), while also choosing to pursue Natural/Basic Sciences, are eligible.
• Those admitted to esteemed institutions like the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), and the Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences (DAE-CBS) at the University of Mumbai, for courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, are eligible.
• Applicants who have received scholarships like KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna), National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), Olympiad Medals, and Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), and are pursuing courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, are also eligible.

The Inspire Scholarship 2024 is exclusively open to students pursuing regular courses. Listed below are the various subjects that fall under the scope of the INSPIRE scholarship programme:

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

However, candidates must make a note of the subjects that DO NOT fall under the INSPIRE programme, which includes:

• Medicine
• Agriculture
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Seed Technology
• Military Science
• Defense Studies
• Home Science
• Biotechnology
• Bioinformatics
• Geography
• Economics
• Physical Education
• Education
• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Computer Applications
• Instrumentation

Students must also note that those who are enrolled in distance education programs are also not ineligible to apply for this scholarship.

Students have the convenience of both applying for a new scholarship and renewing an existing one through a single online portal. To apply for the Inspire Scholarship 2024, follow these essential steps:

• Visit the official website at online-inspire.gov.in.
• If you are a new applicant, click on "New User" if not, proceed to step 4.
• Fill in all mandatory fields and then submit your application.
• After submission, log in using the generated credentials, which will grant you access to the candidate dashboard.
• Browse the scholarship application link and provide personal details, current educational information, and details related to your 12th-grade studies or national-level competitive exams, along with other pertinent information and your contact details.
• Review all the provided information (filled by you) for accuracy and then submit your application.
• To stay updated about the status of your Inspire scholarship application for 2024, make sure to write down your application reference number or IVR number provided.
• It is also advisable to print a copy of your application form for future reference.

The renewal of the Inspire Scholarship 2024 is primarily contingent on the candidate's academic performance. To qualify for renewal, students must

• Keep the performance report and result mark sheet within 12 months after the announcement of the results.
• Eligibility for the continuation of the DST Inspire Scholarship for 2024 is reserved for students who have secured 60% or higher marks (equivalent to a GPA of 7.0 or above) in their University/College examinations.
• Students who either did not participate in the examinations or did not attain the requisite marks will not meet the criteria for the scholarship renewal.

When submitting your application for the Inspire 2024 scholarship, please ensure that you include scanned copies of the following documents:

• Passport-sized photograph (Required for all applicants)
• 10th-grade mark sheet (Required for all applicants)
• 12th-grade mark sheet (Required for all applicants)
• Caste Certificate (Applicable for OBC/SC/ST applicants)
• Certificate indicating rank in a National-level competitive entrance exam (Applicable if applying under this category)
• Certificate demonstrating an award in JBNSTS/NTSE/International Olympic Medals (Applicable if applying under this category)
• Endorsement form signed by the Principal/Director/Registrar of your current College/Institute/University (Compulsory for all applicants)
• Eligibility Note/Advisory Note (Optional, not mandatory)

Candidates must log in to the official website to keep track of the deadline to apply for the INSPIRE scholarship Programme. The table below presents the key dates for the Inspire Scholarship Application Form in 2024 in a clear and organized manner.

The scholarship has an annual value of INR 80,000. Each recipient will receive a monthly scholarship of INR5,000, totalling INR60,000 annually. All SHE scholars must engage in summer research projects conducted under the guidance of established researchers at recognized research centers across India. 

They will also receive an annual summer mentorship grant of INR 20,000. Upon completion of the project, scholars are required to submit a Project Report and a Certificate from their mentor within the specified timeframe.

To initiate the registration process for INSPIRE scholarships 2024, students should visit the portal at online-inspire.gov.in. Here, they should select their desired program components, for example, SHE, Fellowship, or Faculty Award, and provide the required information. After entering the details, the candidate has to click on the "verify" button. Once the verification process is complete, you will receive instructions to proceed with the registration.

Our development team is currently reaching out to you through the email address or mobile number you have provided. If you encounter any difficulties while accessing the portal, please feel free to reach out to us at inspire.prog/dst@nic.in or call our helpline at 0124-6690020 or 0124-6690021 (Monday to Saturday, from 10 AM to 5 PM). 

Due to the high volume of applications received by the Department, the selection process typically takes a minimum of four months from the application submission deadline. Once selected, all candidates will receive a Provisional Offer Letter through their web portal account, confirming their scholarship status. 

Provisionally selected students must log into the online portal to access and download their offer letter. The list of selected and rejected students will also be prominently displayed on the home page of the INSPIRE Web Portal. Selected candidates will be required to upload the necessary documents to their web portal within the specified timeframe, as indicated in the offer letter, to facilitate further processing by the Department.