Inspire Scholarship – Every student deserves the right to higher education, regardless of their financial situation. To encourage students to pursue careers in science, the Ministry of Science and Technology has introduced the Inspire Scholarship 2025. This scholarship program offers financial aid to students enrolled in science-related courses. This article provides detailed information about the program, including its purpose, benefits, features, eligibility criteria, necessary documents, and application process. Continue reading to gain insights into this valuable scholarship scheme.
About Inspire Scholarship 2025
The Department of Science and Technology launched the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scholarship initiative on November 13, 2008, with a budget of ₹1979.25 crores. Annually, the government provides scholarships to approximately 10,000 students, valued at ₹80,000 each for a maximum of five years or until the completion of their course. This program aims to financially support students who wish to continue their education in the science field but face financial hurdles. Inspire Scholarship 2025 is one of the essential components of the larger Inspire scheme.
The Inspire scheme consists of three main components: initiatives for attracting early talent, scholarships for higher education, and research career opportunities. The government offers various awards, internships, scholarships, and fellowships through this program, ensuring every student has access to higher education.
Financial Assistance Under Inspire Scholarship
Under the Inspire Scholarship Scheme, a total financial aid of ₹80,000 per year will be available. Recipients will receive ₹5,000 monthly, totaling ₹60,000 annually. Additionally, students are required to engage in a summer research project supervised by an active researcher at a recognized center in India. For this, an annual mentorship fee of ₹20,000 will also be covered. Upon completing their project, scholars must submit a report along with a certificate from their mentor within the designated timeframe.
Key Features of Inspire Scholarship
| Scholarship Name | Inspire Scholarship |
| Initiated By | Department Of Science And Technology |
| Target Group | Students |
| Purpose | To Provide Scholarships |
| Official Website | Inspire Scholarship Portal |
| Year | 2025 |
Aim of Inspire Scholarship
The primary aim of the Inspire Scholarship 2025 is to inspire the youth of our nation to take up science studies from an early age, fostering critical skills needed to enhance the science and technology sector and the research ecosystem. This financial aid ensures that students do not have to worry about funding their education, thus promoting higher literacy rates in the country. Students can receive financial assistance for studies up to the doctoral level, ultimately encouraging further research and development.
Advantages and Characteristics of Inspire Scholarship
- The Inspire Scholarship initiative was launched on November 13, 2008, with an allocation of ₹1979.25 crores.
- The government awards scholarships to around 10,000 students annually.
- Financial support is available for students wishing to pursue higher studies in the science field, overcoming financial restrictions.
- This scholarship is a significant part of the overall Inspire scheme.
- Numerous awards, internships, scholarships, and fellowships are made available under this initiative.
- The aim is to provide all students access to adequate educational opportunities.
- Competitive exams are not used to assess talent at any level for this scholarship scheme.
Disciplines Covered Under Inspire Scholarship
- Physics
- Electronics
- Astronomy
- Geology
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- Astrophysics
- Biophysics
- Genetics
- Biology
- Zoology
- Botany
- Microbiology
- Anthropology
- Marine Biology
- Ecology
- Oceanic Science
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics
- Atmospheric Science
Begum Hazrat Mahal Scholarship
Types of Scholarships Under Inspire Scheme
Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEAT)
This program seeks to draw young, talented students to science. An Inspire Award of ₹5,000 is granted to 1 million selected students between ages 10 to 15 years, predominantly from classes 6 to 10. Additionally, summer camps for 50,000 science students in class 11 are organized every year, providing opportunities to engage with global science leaders and experience the excitement of innovation.
Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)
To promote increased participation in science-heavy higher education programs, scholarships and mentorships to 10,000 students annually are provided. The financial support is ₹80,000 per year for students aged 17 to 22 pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in natural sciences. Mentorship is guaranteed for all beneficiaries.
Assured Opportunity for Research Career (AORC)
This initiative is designed to nurture and retain talented young scientists. It comprises two main components: the Inspire Fellowship, which offers 1,000 doctoral scholarships annually for individuals aged 22 to 27 studying basic and applied sciences, including engineering and medicine; and the Inspire Faculty Scheme, which provides postdoctoral researchers aged 27 to 32 with 1,000 assured opportunities annually for five years through contractual and tenure-track positions in various science fields.
Eligibility Criteria for Inspire Scholarship
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of India.
- Applicants should be between 17 to 22 years old.
- Students must be enrolled at a recognized university.
- Individuals with aggregate marks in the top 1% of their class 12 board examinations (State or Central) are eligible.
- Students pursuing natural and basic sciences at the BSc, BS, or integrated MSc/MS level qualify.
- Those who achieved a rank within the top 10,000 in JEE (IIT), AIPMT, and are currently studying natural and basic sciences are also eligible to apply.
- Top 1% scorers of the class 12 board exams, pursuing MS degrees in specified institutions, qualify for the scholarship.
- Students recognized under the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana and those participating in bachelor’s or master’s courses in natural sciences can apply.
- Scholars from the National Talent Search Examination, Jagdish Bose National Science Talent Search, and International Olympiad medalists in natural sciences can also apply.
Required Documents for Application
- Class 12 mark sheet
- Class 10 mark sheet
- Endorsement certificate as per the prescribed format signed by the principal or registrar.
- Eligibility note/advisory note if issued by relevant boards.
- Proof of rank or award in JEE/Main, JEE/Advanced, NEET, KVPY, and international Olympiad.
- Aadhar card.
- Photocopy of a bank passbook.
- Caste certificate.
- Passport-sized photograph.
- Contact number.
How to Apply for Inspire Scholarship
- Visit the official website of the Department of Science and Technology.
- The homepage will be displayed.
- Click on the “New User? Register Here” option.
- A new registration page will appear.
- Fill in the following details on the registration page:
- Salutation
- Name
- Gender
- Mobile number
- Date of birth
- Login email address
- Password
- Eligibility criteria
- Identification details
- Captcha verification
- Click on submit.
- Log in using your credentials.
- Click on “Inspire Scholarship”.
- The scholarship form will be displayed.
- Fill out the form with all necessary information.
- Upload the required documents.
- Click on submit to complete the application process.
Procedure to Log in to the Portal
- Visit the official website of the Department of Science and Technology.
- The homepage will appear.
- Under the login section, input your user ID, password, and captcha code.
- Click “Sign In”.
- This procedure will successfully log you into the portal.
Viewing Contact Information
- Go to the official website of the Department of Science and Technology.
- The homepage will appear.
- Click on “Contact Us” on the homepage.
- A new page displaying contact details will open.