INSPIRE Scholarship 2020 – Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)

 

INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) is a scholarship programme implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. It is a scholarship scheme that comes under Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), a flagship programme of DST. Meant for meritorious students undertaking bachelor’s and master’s courses in Natural and Basic Sciences, INSPIRE Scholarship offers 10,000 scholarships every year. Under SHE, each selected candidate receives INR 80,000 annually for pursuing any subject of Natural or Basic Sciences.
Find below the full details of INSPIRE Scholarship (SHE).

INSPIRE Scholarship – Rewards

Under the scheme SHE, each selected candidate gets a scholarship amount valued at INR 80,000 per annum for the study of Science and Technology and pursue research as a career. The maximum period for which the students can avail the benefits of this scholarship is five years or till the completion of the course (whichever is earlier). Find below the complete details of the benefits granted under this scholarship.

Awards & Benefits of INSPIRE Scholarship

Total Scholarship Value	Benefits
INR 80,000 per annum	Cash payable to selected students is INR 60,000 per annum
	INR 20,000 as summer time attachment fee is paid to those candidates who undertake summer time research project

Note: All the selected candidates need to undertake summer research projects under the guidance of an active researcher in a recognised research center of India.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Key Dates

The scholarship is announced every year during the mid of October and ends at the end of the month of December. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education 2019 has been announced. Find below the table indicating the tentative dates of the scholarship.

Key Dates of INSPIRE Scholarship

S.No.	Event	Key Dates
1.	Online application starts	1st November 2019
2.	Online application closes	31st December 2019
3.	Release of list of shortlisted candidates	April/May*

Note: The above-mentioned date is tentative and subject to change on the discretion of DST.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Eligibility Criteria

In order to apply for SHE, the applicants must have passed class 12 in 2019 (only) and pursuing courses in Natural Sciences at the B.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. level. Given below is the detailed information about the eligibility criteria of this scholarship.

• The applicant must be within the age group of 17-22 years.
• The candidate must be among the top 1% of the successful students in terms of aggregate marks in his/her class 12 board exam.
• The applicant must be enrolled in courses of Natural and Basic Sciences at the BSc, BS, and Integrated MSc/MS level in the same year of passing class 12.
• The applicants who are among the top 10,000 rankers in Joint Entrance Examination of IIT, AIEEE (top 20,000 rankers) & cleared CBSE-Medical (AIPTM) and have opted to study Natural/Basic Sciences are eligible.
• The candidates who are admitted to Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences (DAE-CBS) at the University of Mumbai for pursuing courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree are also eligible.
• The applicants who are KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna), National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), Olympiad Medallists and Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) scholar and are pursuing courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree are eligible.
• The subjects that come under the scope of Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) are mentioned in the table given below.

Subjects under the scope of INSPIRE Scholarship

S.No.	Name of subjects
1.	Physics
2.	Chemistry
3.	Mathematics
4.	Biology
5.	Statistics
6.	Geology
7.	Astrophysics
8.	Astronomy
9.	Electronics
10.	Botany
11.	Zoology
12.	Biochemistry
13.	Anthropology
14.	Microbiology
15.	Geophysics
16.	Geochemistry
17.	Atmospheric Sciences
18.	Oceanic Sciences
19.	Ecology
20.	Marine Biology
21.	Genetics
22.	BioPhysics

INSPIRE Scholarship – Application Process

The applications for INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) are accepted online through the online portal of the INSPIRE Programme. Given below is the complete guideline on how to apply for the scholarship.

Step 1: First the applicant must register as a new user on the INSPIRE scholarship portal. Click here to visit the official portal. Click on ‘New User? Register here‘. The candidate must enter his/her name, gender, date of birth, email, password, eligibility criteria and verification code for successful registration.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Registration

INSPIRE Scholarship – Registration Form

Step 2: The candidate receives user ID and password on their registered email ID where he/she needs to click on the activation link to activate his/her account.

Step 3: The applicant must keep the scanned copies of all the required documents as separate files before filling the application form.

Step 4: The applicant must log in to the INSPIRE scholarship portal using his/her username and password.

INSPIRE Scholarship – User Login

Step 5: Now, the candidate must fill in all the details like personal particulars, enrolment information at B.Sc. and Integrated M.Sc. level, senior secondary performance information, national level competitive exam details, contact details and other details in the scholarship application form.

Step 6: Also, the applicant needs to upload all the required documents in support of the online scholarship application.

Step 7: The applicant needs to review the entered details before the submission of the form by pressing on the ‘Print Preview’ button. He/She must make sure that all the details and uploaded documents are correct.

Step 8: Now, the applicant needs to click on the ‘Submit’ button to submit the application.

Step 9: After the final submission of the online scholarship application form, the candidate must take the print out of the submitted application for his/her record.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Key Documents

While applying for the Scholarship for Higher Education, applicants need to submit some important documents in support of their application lack of which might lead to their rejection. Find below the list of all the important documents that a candidate needs to upload while filling his/her scholarship application.

Important Documents of INSPIRE Scholarship

S.No.	Name of Document	Type and size of file
1.	Applicant’s passport size photograph	JPEG format with size not more than 50 KB
2.	Community/caste certificate in case the applicant belongs to OBC/SC/ST category	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
3.	Eligibility note or advisory note if provided by the State/Central Board	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
4.	Class 12th mark sheet	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
5.	Class 10th mark sheet or certificate (for proof of Date of Birth)	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
6.	Certificate specifying rank/award in JEE (Main)/ JEE (Advanced)/ NEET/ KVPY /JBNSTS/ NTSE / International Olympic Medallists (if the candidate is eligible under this criterion)	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
7.	Endorsement Form signed by the Principal of the College/Director of the Institute/Registrar of the University	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB
8.	First page of applicant’s SBI bank passbook	PDF format with size not more than 1 MB

INSPIRE Scholarship – Selection Process

All the scholarship applications sent by the potential INSPIRE scholars are evaluated on the basis of the specified eligibility criteria. On the basis of this evaluation, a list of shortlisted candidates is prepared.

• The list of shortlisted candidates is displayed on the online portal of INSPIRE and also on the website of the INSPIRE programme.
• The selected students need to download their provisional offer letter from the online portal of INSPIRE.
• The shortlisted candidates also need to upload the necessary documents on their web portal within the specified timeline for further consideration.
• The selected candidates receive their scholarship awards directly into their State Bank of India (SBI) bank account through DBT (Direct Bank Transfer).

INSPIRE Scholarship – Renewal

For the continuation of SHE scholarship in the subsequent years, INSPIRE scholars need to fulfil the criteria mentioned below.

• The students applying for renewal need to score at least 60% marks or 7.0 GPA on a 10.0-point scale in the annual examinations each year (or 2 semesters).
• If the candidate fails to secure the required marks in his/her B.Sc/BS/Int. M.Sc/Int. MS exam, the scholarship for that academic year will be cancelled. The scholarship is resumed in the next academic year if the student’s academic performance is satisfactory.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Terms & Conditions

There are a few rules that applicants need to follow in order to apply for this scholarship. Find below the list of terms and conditions that an applicant needs to keep in mind while applying for the SHE scholarship.

1. INSPIRE-SHE is awarded to students for a period of five years, starting from the 1^st year B.Sc., BS, Integrated M.Sc/MS or until the completion of the course, whichever comes earlier.

2. Candidates must submit completed application as the incomplete application form is entitled to be rejected.

3. Subjects such as Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Seed Technology, Anthropology, Home Science, Geography, Economics, Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree course), Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bio-informatics, Instrumentation, Information Technology, Physical Education, courses in Distance Education mode at the Open Universities and other professional courses are not supported under SHE scholarship.

4. The INSPIRE scholar must open a regular Savings Bank Account in any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) only. The account must be in the name of the applicant and it should not be a joint account.

5. The shortlisted candidates must submit their year-wise performance report (signed by the Head of the Institution) and mark sheet of their BSc, BS, Int. MSc/MS course for the release of the scholarship. Head of the Institution refers to Vice-Chancellor/Registrar/Dean of Science in case of Universities and Principal/Vice-Principal/Proctor/Officer-in-Charge in case of colleges.

6. The Head of the Institution must clearly mention in the performance report if the scholarship should be continued or not in that academic year.

7. For the first time, the scholarship is released only after the approval of the performance report and mark sheet of 1^st year B.Sc, BS, Int. M.Sc/MS. If the academic performance of the candidate is satisfactory, two years of scholarship, i.e., INR 1,20,000 is released during the candidate’s 2^nd year of B.Sc, BS, Int. M.Sc/MS.

8. Candidates availing any other scholarship from other sources are not eligible to receive this scholarship.

INSPIRE Scholarship – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find below the answer to some of the most common questions that come into the mind of students regarding the SHE scholarship.

✔️ Who can apply for INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education?

Applicants with the average marks within the top 1% of their class 12 exam of any State or Central Board and they must be pursuing courses in Basic & Natural Sciences at the BSc, BS, and Int. MSc/MS level. The applicant must fall within the age group of 17 to 22 years.

✔️ How many INSPIRE scholarships are disbursed every year among students?

10,000 scholarships at the rate of INR 80,000 per students are disbursed every year.

✔️ When should a student apply for INSPIRE SHE?

The students should apply for SHE in the same year in which they have passed their class 12 exam and have enrolled themselves in BSc, BS, Int. MSc/MS degrees, in Natural and Basic Sciences.

✔️ How can an applicant apply for the INSPIRE scholarship?

The applicants can apply online for SHE scholarship through the online portal of INSPIRE.

✔️ When can students expect to be intimated about their selection for SHE scholarship?

The selection process usually takes a period of at least four months due to the large volume of applications.

✔️ What should the applicant do if he/she gets selected but has not received the offer letter?

The applicant login to the online portal of INSPIRE where he/she will find the offer letter in his/her dashboard.

✔️ Since applicants are instructed to mention their registration number in all their correspondences, where can they find this number?

The students can find their INSPIRE registration number in the initial scholarship offer letter.

✔️ What happens in case the INSPIRE scholar who is pursuing 1st year BSc/BS/Int.MSc/Int.MS course discontinues it afterwards?

The scholarship offer will be withdrawn summarily and even after re-joining the course the offer will stand withdrawn.

✔️ What are the conditions of Summer projects to be undertaken by all the INSPIRE scholars?

It is mandatory for INSPIRE scholars to enrol themselves every year in Summer projects at recognised research centers of their choice across the country, outside their parent institutions.

Under the SHE scholarship programme, the INSPIRE scholars receive INR 20,000 per annum as Mentorship for undertaking Summer research programmes. The timeline of the summer project must be six to eight weeks and it must be clearly mentioned in the project report. Also, the students must keep in mind that the group project is not accepted. The scholars must send the following documents to the DST:

1. An attested letter by the Research Guide where the INSPIRE scholar is enrolled for the summer project

2. A report stating the objectives and results of the project

✔️ When is the last date to apply for INSPIRE Scholarship?

The applications for INSPIRE Scholarship generally start in the month of November and continue till December. The last date to apply for INSPIRE Scholarship for the academic year 2019-20 was 31st December 2019. The students are advised to keep a check on its official website to get the latest updates about the scholarship.

✔️ What is the full form of INSPIRE?

The term INSPIRE refers to Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research

INSPIRE Scholarship: Other Related Programmes

You already know that SHE scholarship comes under the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), a flagship programme of DST. Besides INSPIRE SHE, there are two other programmes that come under the ambit of INSPIRE Scheme. These programmes are as follows:

1. INSPIRE Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent for Science (SEATS) – It aims to encourage talented young students to take interest in the subject of Science by providing them with INSPIRE Awards and INSPIRE Internship.

2. INSPIRE Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) – It aims to attract and retain bright young scientists to strengthen the R&D foundation and base. It comprises of two components which include INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Award.

Find below a brief summary of these programmes.

Different Schemes of INSPIRE

S.No.	Schemes of INSPIRE	Details
1.	INSPIRE SEATS	INSPIRE Awards: Students of class 6 to 10 are eligible for INSPIRE Awards. The students should be in the age group of 10 to 15 years. Around 2 Lakh students are awarded INR 5000 per child under INSPIRE Awards. INSPIRE Internship: Students who are among the top 1% in their class 10 board exam and are studying in class 11 science stream. The students should be in the age group of 16 to 17 years. 50,000 students are selected every year for summer/winter camps to provide them with the opportunity to interact with global leaders in Science.
2.	INSPIRE AORC	INSPIRE Fellowship: 1st rank holder in a particular subject at PG level exam in Basic & Applied Science courses is eligible. INSPIRE Scholars having secured a minimum 70% marks in aggregate at M.Sc or Int.M.Sc/MS level can also apply. 1st rank holder at the Graduate Level Exam in Medicine only, conducted by a university/institution of India is also eligible for the INSPIRE Fellowship. 1000 fellows are selected every year for the INSPIRE Fellowship. For 2 years, the selected fellows receive a monthly amount of INR 25,000. For the last 3 years, the fellows receive INR 28,000 per month. Fellows also receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) and a contingency grant of INR 20,000 per annum. INSPIRE Faculty Award: Ph.D. holders (in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine and Agriculture related subjects) are eligible for INSPIRE Faculty Award. The applicants who have submitted their Ph.D. thesis and are awaiting the award of their Ph.D. degree are also eligible. The applicants must fall in the age group of 27 to 32. However, SC/ST candidates are eligible for 5 years of relaxation. The applicant must have secured at least 60% marks or CGPA throughout his/her academic career starting from Class 12 onwards. Also, the applicant who is within the top 1% at the School Leaving Exam, IIT-JEE rank, 1st rank holder in graduation or PG will be given preference. The selected INSPIRE Faculty receives INR 80,000 with an annual increment at the rate of 3.3% per year. Also, they get a research grant of INR 7 Lakh per year for 5 years.

INSPIRE Scholarship: About DST

Established the Government of India in 1971, DST promotes new areas of Science & Technology in the country. Not only this, but DST also works towards the application and promotion of Science and Technology at the grass-root level through the education, research and development. The INSPIRE Scheme one such effort towards this direction.

INSPIRE Scholarship: Contact Details

In case of any query regarding the INSPIRE programmes, the applicants can send their queries with the Programme Name on the email ID mentioned below.

• Email ID: prog-dst@nic.in
• The subject line should include prefixes:
  INTERNSHIP – Internship program

SHE – Scholarship for Higher Education program

FELLOWSHIP – Fellowship program

FACULTY – Faculty program

GENERAL – Any General query about INSPIRE program

• Emails without the defined subject as mentioned above may not be answered.

List of State Scholarship portal are as follows:

Scholarships for Uttar Pradesh	UP Scholarship
Scholarships for Maharashtra	Mahadbt
Post Matric Scholarships disbursements through ePass	Epass Scholarship
Jnanabhumi online portal of Government of Andhra Pradesh	Jnanabhumi
scholarship portal of Jharkhand	E Kalyan Scholarship
Government of Madhya Pradesh, MP scholarships	MP Scholarship
Karnataka education board, ePASS Karnataka	Epass Karnataka Scholarship
TS epass scholarship is offrering by Telangana Govt	Telangana Epass
Scholarship Portal Government of Punjab	Punjab Scholarship
E-Grantz portal, Government of Kerala	E Grantz
Minorities under Government of Karnataka, GOKDOM	Gokdom
Oasis scholarship portal, West Bengal scholarships	Oasis Scholarship
Chhattisgarh Scholarship Portal	CG Scholarship Portal
SJE Rajasthan Scholarship Portal, Government of Rajasthan	SJE Scholarship
Digital Gujarat scholarship, Government of Gujarat.	Gujarat Scholarship
HP ePass scholarship portal, Himachal Pradesh	HP Epass Scholarship
West Bengal Scholarship Schemes, West Bengal	West Bengal Scholarship
Government of Bihar Post-Matric scholarship SC/ST/BC/EBC	Bihar Scholarship
Scholarship for BC, MBC and Minorities, Govt of TamilNadu	TN Scholarship