INSPIRE Scholarship: All You Should Know

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Launched by the Department of Science and Technology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, the INSPIRE Scholarship For Higher Education is for students who are pursuing graduation and post-graduation courses in natural or basic sciences.

This INSPIRE scholarship aims at attracting talented youth into undertaking higher education in Science intensive programmes, by providing scholarships and mentoring through 'summer attachment' to performing researchers.

The scheme offers 10,000 scholarships every year to talented youth in the age group 17-22 years, for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in Natural and Basic Sciences.

The main feature of the scheme is mentorship support being planned for every scholar through INSPIRE scholarship.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be among top 1% of students in terms of aggregate marks in their Class 12 examination. They must be pursuing a graduation or post-graduation course in Natural or Basic Sciences (BSc, BSc (Hons.), MSc, MSc (Hons.). It is better if they are among top 1000 rankers in JEE of AIPMT/IIT exams and pursuing courses in Natural and Basic Science. They should have enrolled in BSc/BS and MSc/MS with subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Biology, Astrophysics, Geology, Astronomy, Botany, Electronics, Biochemistry, Zoology, Microbiology, Anthropology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Oceanic Sciences and Atmospheric Sciences.

Award details

Candidates, who will be selected, will receive an annual scholarship of INR 60000 in cash and INR 20000 per annum for mentorship that sums up to INR 80000 per annum. The scholarship is tenable for maximum 5 years of duration. However, the continuation of the scholarship depends on the good academic performance of the students in their university examinations.

Documents required

To apply for this scholarship, candidates need to submit the following documents.

1: Passport size photograph (Mandatory)

2: Community/Caste Certificate (only if the applicant belongs to OBC/SC/ST)

3: Advisory Note/Eligibility Note (if applicable).

4 : Mark sheet of Class 12 (Mandatory)

5 : Mark sheets of Class 10 as proof of date of birth.(Mandatory)
6 : A certificate stating the rank occupied in JEE (Mains/Advanced)/KVPY/NEET/ NTSE/ JBNSTS/International Olympic Medalists (Only if the candidate is eligible under this criteria).

7 : Endorsement certificate duly signed by the Director of Institute/Principal of College/Registrar of University.

8 : Any other supporting documents

How to apply

Candidates, who are interested and eligible, can apply and submit the application form with all essential documents through online mode only. To apply in online mode, students need to visit the official website and follow the process prescribed there. Applications by Post will not be accepted. After submitting the online application, candidates must get a printout of the submitted application for their record.

Some important tips

Candidates are advised not to miss the deadlines of this scholarship. After the selection procedure, scholars are required to open a regular Bank Account within India at any branch of State Bank of India.

A maximum period of 3 months would be allowed to a scholar for the completion of Bank Account related formalities and the offer of the scholarship would stand cancelled after that. Students later can renew their scholarship too.