INSPIRE Scholarship
INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (INSPIRE-SHE) is run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and is one of India's most prestigious science scholarships. It offers ₹80,000 per year for 5 years to students pursuing basic and natural sciences after Class 12, with no separate entrance exam — selection is purely merit-based on academic performance or national exam rank. An additional ₹20,000 summer research project grant is also available separately.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be in the top 1% of your board in Class 12 examinations
- Must be pursuing BSc, BS, or integrated MSc/MS in Natural and Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Geology, Astrophysics, Statistics, and related subjects)
- OR have a rank in the top 10,000 of JEE (Main/Advanced) or NEET, and be pursuing science
- OR hold an NTSE, KVPY, JBNSTS, or International Olympiad medal
- Engineering (B.Tech), Medicine, Agriculture, and other professional courses are NOT eligible
- Must be enrolled in a recognised university or institution (IISc and IISERs also eligible under the integrated MS route)
- Scholarship continues for a maximum of 5 years or till course completion, whichever is earlier
- Must open and link an Aadhaar-based SBI savings account for fund transfer
Benefits & Scholarship Amount
- ₹80,000 per annum, paid via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Continues for up to 5 years during BSc/BS/integrated MSc
- Total value over 5 years: ₹4,00,000
- Additional ₹20,000 summer research project funding available separately
- Funds credited only to Aadhaar-linked SBI savings account — joint accounts or other banks not accepted
- Access to research internships and mentorship at premier science institutions
- No competitive exam required — recognises merit already demonstrated
- Encourages talented students to choose research careers in basic sciences
Exam Pattern
None — INSPIRE does not conduct a separate entrance test
Top 1% in Class 12 board examination, any State/Central board
Top 10,000 rank in JEE (Main/Advanced) or NEET
NTSE / KVPY / JBNSTS / International Olympiad medal holders
Application screening → document verification → merit list (Class 12 marks / JEE-NEET rank) → provisional offer → final confirmation
Selection uses the Board Inclusive Pro-Rata Model
Syllabus
Eligible Subjects: No syllabus exists since there's no exam
- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology
- Statistics, Geology, Astrophysics
- Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Biochemistry
- Electronics, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Atmospheric Sciences
- Anthropology, Oceanic Sciences
- Not covered: Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy, Psychology, Economics, Home Science, Education, Defence Studies
Important Dates
Expected to open March, close end of April 2026 (DST yet to confirm exact 2026 dates)
Previous academic year's board results
Expected May–June 2026 (Check official portal also)
Frequently Asked Questions
INSPIRE stands for "Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research." It's a programme run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, to attract talented students toward careers in basic sciences.
No. INSPIRE-SHE does not conduct any separate entrance exam. Selection is based entirely on your Class 12 board rank (top 1%), or your rank in JEE/NEET, or an NTSE/KVPY/Olympiad medal.
No. INSPIRE-SHE is only for students pursuing BSc, BS, or integrated MSc/MS in Natural and Basic Sciences. Engineering (B.Tech), Medicine, Agriculture, and other professional courses are not eligible.
₹80,000 per year for up to 5 years, totaling ₹4,00,000 over the full duration. An additional ₹20,000 summer research project grant is also available separately.
KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) was discontinued as a separate exam in 2022. Its scholarship benefits have been merged into INSPIRE, so KVPY medal holders can still qualify through that route, and existing KVPY fellows continue receiving support as before.
A savings account in your name at SBI (State Bank of India), linked to your Aadhaar. Joint accounts and accounts at other banks are not accepted for disbursal.
No. The INSPIRE Scholarship application is completely free, with no registration or processing charges at any stage.
Around 10,000 students are selected annually, though the exact number can vary slightly depending on the final merit list and document verification outcomes.
Yes. Unlike NMMS, INSPIRE has no restriction on school type — private school students are fully eligible, provided they meet the top 1% board rank or other qualifying criteria.
DST has not yet confirmed exact 2026 dates. Based on previous years' patterns, applications are expected to open around March and close by the end of April — check the official portal (online-inspire.gov.in) closer to that period for the confirmed notification.
Quick Info
- Eligibility
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Class 12 pass()Top 1% boardJEE-NEET rankNTSE-KVPY-Olympiad
- Amount
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Scholarship Amount₹80,000 per year
- Category
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Central Govt.