Ministry of Science and Technology
Department of Science and Technology
SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (SHE)
“Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)” is one such innovative program whichhas three components namely i) Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS), b)
Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) and c) Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC),
developed by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to science. The basic
objective of INSPIRE is to communicate to the youth population of the country the excitements of creative
pursuit of science and attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and build the required
critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and R&D
base. The Program was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 13th
December 2008.
Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) aims for the enhancement in rate of attachment of talented youth
to undertake higher education in science intensive program by providing scholarships and mentoring
through summer attachment to performing researchers. The scheme offers 10,000 Scholarship every year
@ Rs 0.80 lakh per year for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in natural and basic
sciences for the talented youth in the age group 17-22 years. The main feature of the scheme is in
mentorship support being planned for every scholar through INSPIRE Scholarship.
Out of the 10000 students, 7500 would be selected on the basis of marks obtained in Central and State
board exams. It is proposed that the student should be among the top 1 % who pass out of Class XII
Examination, in their respective boards (either Central or State Board) and pursuing any subject of Natural
or Basic sciences i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences (Zoology, Botany etc.), Mathematics, Statistics,
Geology etc. at the BSc or Integrated MSc/MS level in any recognised college, university or academic
institute in India. The balance 2500 candidates would be selected from various National Competitive
Examinations viz. IIT-JEE, AIEEE, CBSE Medical Board, IISER, NISER, KVPY, NTSE, International Olympiad
Medallists and JBNSTS Fellows being held in India and pursuing Basic or Natural sciences in University or
academic institution across India.
The following processes are being followed towards selection, offering of award, disbursement and
continuity of the INSPIRE Scholarship for an eligible student under the SHE scheme:
… DST receives Class XII results from various Boards every year and compute & display top 1% cutoff marks of each Board in the country,
… DST announces the scheme through Newspaper (all India basis) seeking applications from Students
who are within the top 1% cut-off marks and pursuing science courses at Undergraduate/
Integrated MSc or MS level,
… Application received from students with all details of marks obtained and endorsement from
College Principals of pursuing science at the BSc stage,
… Applications thus received with endorsement from College Principals of pursuing science at the BSc
stage, processed on the basis of Board-wise cut-off marks and list of eligible students generated
to offer Scholarship,
… Scholarship released through Smart Card issued by State Bank of India to eligible students.
http://www.du.ac.in/fileadmin/DU/DUCorner/pdf/INSPIRE_Scholarship_1162011.pdf
… The continuity of Scholarship to the student is purely on the basis of performance in the
examination on annual basis.
Eligible Students who are either within top 1% cut-off marks in the Class XII examination of any Board in
the country or in receipt of Eligibility Certificate from their respective Class XII Board and pursuing any
subject of Natural or Basic sciences i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences (Zoology, Botany etc.), Mathematics, Statistics, Geology etc. at the BSc or Integrated MSc/MS level in any recognized College,
University or Academic Institute should avail this opportunity immediately. Such candidate may register
online at http://www.inspire-dst.gov.in/requirement.html or apply to the Department of Science and
Technology by downloading the Application form from http://www.inspire-dst.gov.in/inspireadvertisement.pdf .
