The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India launched the prestigious INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE). Part of the larger Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scholarship, this scholarship aims to support outstanding undergraduate and graduate degree college students in the herbal and basic sciences.
The blog provides you with insights into the INSPIRE Scholarship Program, including the application process, eligibility Criteria, required documents, and other important information. Read the complete instructions to understand and apply for this scholarship further.
Key Highlights of INSPIRE Scholarship 2025
| Particular | Details |
| Scholarship Name | INSPIRE Scholarship |
| Ministry Name | DST (Department of Science and Technology the Government of India) |
| Introduced by | Government of India |
| Scholarship Type | Govt of India |
| Applying Process | online-inspire.gov.in |
| Benefits | Selected candidates receive an annual scholarship of ₹80,000 |
| Beneficial | DST (Department of Science and Technology, the Government of India) |
| Date to Apply | Oct – December |
What is the Last Date for Applying for the INSPIRE Scholarship?
INSPIRE scholarships for higher schooling are usually announced in mid-October every 12 months, with the application length final on the end of December. The final announcement of the INSPIRE Scholarship has been released.
Eligibility Criteria for an INSPIRE Scholarship
INSPIRE Scholarship: Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet specific criteria to apply for the INSPIRE Scholarship of Higher Education (SHE), which focuses on academic excellence and a basic natural sciences background, especially at the undergraduate level. The detailed eligibility criteria are outlined below.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 22.
- Academic Performance: Candidates should rank in the top 1% of students based on their aggregate scores in their class 12 board exams.
- Courses for Use: The applicant must be enrolled in natural and elementary science courses at a B.Sc., BS, or Integrated M.Sc./MS level in the previous year of Class 12th.
- Competitive Exam Rankings: The top 10,000 in the IIT Joint Entrance Test, the top 20,000 in AIEEE, or those who wish to study CBSE-Medical (AIPTM) and choose Natural/Basic Science are eligible.
- Institution-Specific Admission Result: Admission to Indian Institute of Science Education Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education Research (NISER), or Department of Basic Sciences Centre (DAE-CBS) B.Sc. A natural/basic science degree is also eligible.
- The Special Scholar Program is open to candidates who are KVPY (Teenager Scientific Incentive Scheme) scholars, National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholars, Olympiad medalists, or Jagdish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) scholars with a background in Natural/Basic Science. Our B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees are appropriate.
Subjects under the Scope of INSPIRE Scholarship
The INSPIRE Scholarship incorporates an extensive range of subjects in the Natural and Basic Sciences, which include:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Statistics
- Geology
- Astrophysics
- Botany
- Astronomy
- Electronics
- Zoology
- Biochemistry
- Anthropology
- Microbiology
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry
- Oceanic Sciences
- Ecology
- Biophysics
- Genetics
- Marine Biology
- Atmospheric Sciences
INSPIRE Scholarship: Essential Documents
When applying for the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), candidates need to submit essential documents to guide their application. Failure to provide those files may additionally result in application rejection. Below is a listing of the important files required for the INSPIRE Scholarship Application:
Required Documents for the INSPIRE Scholarship Application:
- The applicant should provide a recent passport-length picture in JPEG format, with a maximum size of 50 KB.
- The community/Caste certificate is available for candidates from OBC/SC/ST categories in PDF format, with a maximum size of one MB.
- The State/Central Board issues eligibility notices or advisory notices in PDF format, with a maximum size of one MB.
- The mark sheets for classes 10 and 12 are available in PDF format, with a maximum size of one MB.
- The certificate should confirm your rank or award in JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced), NEET, KVPY, JBNSTS, NTSE, or International Olympiads, if applicable. The certificate should be in PDF format, with a maximum length of one MB.
- The Endorsement Form, in PDF format and with a maximum size of one MB, must be signed by the Principal of the College, the Director of the Institute, or the Registrar of the University.
- The first web page displays the applicant’s SBI financial institution passbook in PDF format, with a maximum length of 1 MB.
Step-by-Step Application Process for INSPIRE Scholarship
INSPIRE Scholarship: Application Process
You submit your application for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) online through the official INSPIRE Program portal. Below is a step-by-step guide explaining how to apply for the scholarship:
Step 1: Register as a new user at the INSPIRE scholarship portal.
Step 2: Click on the ‘New User? Register here‘ link. Enter your number, gender, date of birth, email, password, eligibility standards, and verification code to finish the registration process.
Step 3: You will acquire a user ID and password through your registered email. Click on the activation link inside the email to set off your account.
Step 4: Ensure that you have scanned copies of all the vital files stored as separate documents.
Step 5: Log in to the INSPIRE scholarship portal using your username and password.
Step 6: Complete the scholarship application form by providing your personal details, enrollment details for the B.Sc. and Integrated M.Sc. Degree, details of your senior secondary education, details of your aggressive national exams, contact records, and other relevant information.
Step 7: Upload the required files to assist with your online application.
Step 8: Before submitting, review all of the entered data by clicking on the ‘Print Preview’ button. Verify that the information and uploaded files are correct.
Step 9: Click on the ‘Submit’ button to finalise your application.
Step 10: After submitting the online application, print out the completed application form for your personal records.
INSPIRE Scholarship: Selection Process
We thoroughly review all packages for the INSPIRE Scholarship based on the established eligibility criteria. After this evaluation, we create a list of shortlisted applicants.
- Both the official INSPIRE program website and the INSPIRE online portal publish the shortlist of candidates.
- Selected college students should download their provisional offer letters from the INSPIRE online portal.
- Shortlisted candidates are also required to add vital documents to the portal in the given time frame for similar consideration.
- Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) immediately credits the scholarship awards to the selected applicants’ State Bank of India (SBI) financial institution bills.
INSPIRE Scholarship—Renewal
In order to maintain eligibility for the SHE scholarship in future years, INSPIRE scholars must meet the following requirements:
- Students looking for renewal need to gain a minimum of 60% marks or a 7.0 GPA on a 10.0-factor scale of their annual examinations every year (or across two semesters).
- If a student fails to meet the required marks in their B.Sc./BS/Integrated M.Sc./Integrated MS assessments, the scholarship for that instructional 12-month period can be cancelled. However, the scholar’s academic performance may lead to their reinstatement in the next academic year.
INSPIRE Scholarship – Rewards
Under the SHE scheme, each selected candidate gets a scholarship amount of ₹80,000 in step of 12 months for pursuing studies in science and technology and for following a research profession course. You can avail of the scholarship benefits for a maximum of five years, or until the degree reaches its pinnacle, whichever comes first. Below are the special advantages furnished under this scholarship.
Inspire scholarship awards and benefits
Selected candidates will get a complete stipend of ₹80,000 in step with annum. Of this, ₹60,000 could be allotted yearly as a stipend, while some other ₹20,000 may be furnished as summertime attachment charges for college students participating in the summer studies assignment.
Note: All decided-on candidates are required to adopt summer research tasks under the guidance of an active researcher at an identified studies centre in India.
The INSPIRE Scholarship has specific terms and conditions.
INSPIRE Scholarship: Terms & Conditions
Applicants must adhere to specific rules when applying for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE). Below are the key terms and conditions to keep in mind:
- The INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship lasts for five years, starting in the first year of a B.Sc., BS, or Integrated M.Sc./MS course and ending at graduation, whichever comes first.
- Applicants should make sure to complete all of their applications because we may reject incomplete ones.
- The SHE scholarship does not cover subjects such as engineering, medicine, military science, defense studies, agriculture, psychology, seed technology, anthropology, home science, geography, economics, education (including dual-degree courses like B.Sc.-B.Ed.), biotechnology, computer science, computer applications, bioinformatics, instrumentation, information technology, physical education, distance education courses at open universities, and other professional courses.
- INSPIRE scholars must open a regular savings bank account exclusively in their name at any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI). Joint accounts are not permitted.
- Shortlisted candidates must submit an annual performance report (signed by the dean of the institution) and a transcript of their B.Sc., BS.., or Integrated M.Sc./MS courses to be eligible for the scholarship. The term “dean of the institution” refers to the vice chancellor, secretary, or dean of science in universities, or the principal, vice principal, proctor, or dean in colleges.
- The Head of the Institution must explicitly state in the performance report whether the scholarship should continue for the academic year.
- Only after the approval of the performance report and the mark sheet from the first year of B.Sc., BS, or Integrated M.Sc./MS does the scholarship disbursement take place for the first time. If the candidate’s academic performance is satisfactory, two years of the scholarship, amounting to ₹1,20,000, will be released during the second year of the course.
- Candidates receiving any other scholarships from different sources are ineligible for the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship.
Conclusion
Suppose you are a student residing in India, excelling academically, and belong to the SC, ST, or OBC categories with a low family income. In that case, you should consider applying for the INSPIRE Scholarship. Before applying, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. The INSPIRE Scholarship 2025 is available to various categories of students.
| Note:- The Scholarship details offered in this Blog are for informational purposes only. Please consider visiting the Scholarship’s official website to learn more |
Disclaimer:-
| Source of Information:- We are not validating as this information is from various Open Sources on the Internet. Official Website: online-inspire.gov.in |
| Non-Affiliation: We are not associated with any government entity in India or elsewhere. When featuring government scholarships, we rely on publicly accessible information from central and state government websites in India |