INSPIRE Scholarship: Eligibility, Registration Process & Benefits

The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) scholarship is a part of the INSPIRE scheme developed by the Department of Science & Technology (DST). This scholarship is a subset of the Scholarship for Higher Education Program (SHE). It encourages bright students to study natural and basic sciences at the undergraduate level. Annually, 12,000 scholarships are provided to students between 17 and 22 years of age.

Awards & Benefits of INSPIRE Scholarship

The INSPIRE scholarship amount and awards include not only monetary rewards but also mentorship. Here are some pointers that are worth noting in this context. 

1. The scholarship is ₹80,000 per annum, and candidates will get ₹5,000 per month with a total amount of  ₹60,000. 
2. SHE scholars must undertake summer research projects under active researchers at any organized research center. 
3. The summer-time mentorship grant of ₹20,000 will also be paid annually. 
4. The scholars should submit their project report and certificate from their mentors after completing the project. 
5. Candidates will be offered support for a maximum of five years, beginning from the first year of BS, Integrated (Int.) MS/MS program or till the course is completed, whichever comes earlier. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Key Dates

Candidates completing their XII standard examinations in the year and those enrolled in the Int. MS/MS, BS, or MS degrees in Basic and Natural Sciences in the same year may apply. 

The web portal for applications is open from the 10th of September, 2023, and will stay open till the 9th of November, 2023 (till 23:59 hours IST). Students should complete and submit their applications within this deadline. 

INSPIRE Scholarship Eligibility 

The INSPIRE scholarship eligibility criteria are the following: 

1. Meritorious students with aggregate marks are within the top 1% of their Class XII examinations of any Central or State Education Board in the country. 
2. The student should pursue programs in natural and basic sciences at the BS, Int. MS/MS level. 
3. Alternatively, students securing ranks in JEE of IIT, AIPMT (within the top 10000 ranks).
4. Students who have aggregate marks in the top 1% of their Class XII examinations of any Central/State Education Board and are pursuing Int. MS courses in natural and basic sciences at NISER, IISERs, and the Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai, and Visva Bharati, Shanti Niketan, are also eligible. 
5. Alternatively, students chosen under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) and pursuing master’s/bachelor’s programs in natural sciences are eligible. 
6. NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) scholars, JBNSTS (Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search) scholars, and international Olympiad medalists pursuing master/bachelor level courses in natural sciences will also be eligible. 

Subjects Under Scope of INSPIRE Scholarship

The subjects under the scope of the scholarship include the following: 

1. Physics
2. Mathematics
3. Chemistry
4. Botany
5. Astronomy
6. Biology 
7. Geology
8. Statistics
9. Astrophysics
10.  Electronics
11.  Biochemistry
12.  Zoology
13.  Microbiology
14.  Anthropology 
15.  Geophysics
16.  Geochemistry
17.  Oceanic Sciences
18.  Atmospheric Sciences

Documents Required for INSPIRE Scholarship

The documents required for the INSPIRE scholarship include the following: 

1. Class XII mark sheets.
2. Class X mark sheet for proof of date of birth.
3. Endorsement certificate in the suitable format, signed by the principal of the college/director of the institute/registrar of the university.
4. Eligibility note/advisory note if provided by the Central or State Board. 
5. Certificate specifying the award/rank in the JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced), NEET, International Olympic Medalists, JBNSTS, NTSE, or KVPY if applicable. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Application Process

Applications should be submitted via the online portal- https://www.online-inspire.gov.in. Here are the steps to be followed: 

Step 1: Students should enter valid email addresses and their name, date of birth and other details before verifying the captcha code and submitting the details. Post that, a password will be sent to the email address along with the activation link. 

Step 2: Students should also scan and save necessary documents that will be needed while applying. These include the following

i)  Passport-size photograph

ii) Community/caste certificate (if applicable)

iii) Advisory note/eligibility note (if applicable)

iv) Class XII and X mark sheets, rank/award certificate in other categories (if required)

v) Endorsement form, and other supporting documents. 

Step 3: Applying online: Students should log in and click on Scholarship. Post that click on Apply for Scholarship. They have then to fill up the fields through the Edit button. 

Step 4: They have to upload all documents and then click on the Submit button. 

Note: A reference number will be given, and it should be saved for future reference. Also, the printout should be taken of the submitted application and sent to this address - The Director, National Institute of Science, Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS), Dr K S Krishan Marg, New Delhi- 110012 via ordinary post. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Selection Process

The selection process takes around four months from the submission date. Selected candidates will get provisional offer letters on their accounts on the web portal. They have to log in and download their offer letters. The list of chosen candidates will also be shown on the INSPIRE web portal’s home page. Candidates must then upload the necessary documents within the time limit mentioned in the offer letter. 

INSPIRE Scholarship – Terms & Conditions

Here’s a rundown of the terms and conditions for the INSPIRE scholarship that should be kept in mind.

1. For the scholarship release, year-wise performance reports should be submitted in the prescribed format and the scholar's mark sheet.
2. The Head of the Institution should sign this performance report. 
3. Self-attested photocopy of the mark sheets should be enclosed with the performance report. 
4. The annual mark sheet and performance report should be submitted after the declaration of results to get the scholarship amount released. 
5. The maximum timeline is two months within the announcement of the yearly results. 
6. The scholarship will initially be released upon the approval of the first-year performance reports and mark sheets. The further two years’ amounts will be released in the second year. After that, it will be released after approvals of the yearly mark sheets and performance reports. 
7. Scholarships cannot be taken from any other government source. 

The INSPIRE scholarship is a boon for meritorious students wishing to build future careers in basic and natural sciences, spanning research and innovation. 

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