Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE)
₹80,000/year scholarship (₹60,000 + ₹20,000 mentorship) · natural science UG/PG students · DST INSPIRE
The INSPIRE-SHE scholarship supports top-performing science students across India who are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in natural and basic sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. It provides ₹80,000 per year — ₹5,000/month as living support plus a ₹20,000 summer research grant — to help talented students focus on science careers. Students can apply online at the INSPIRE Web Portal (online-inspire.gov.in) once the annual call for applications is announced.
About This Scheme
The INSPIRE-SHE scholarship supports top-performing science students across India who are pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in natural and basic sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. It provides ₹80,000 per year — ₹5,000/month as living support plus a ₹20,000 summer research grant — to help talented students focus on science careers. Students can apply online at the INSPIRE Web Portal (online-inspire.gov.in) once the annual call for applications is announced.
Full official description
The scheme "Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)" is a component of the “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)”, which is a flagship programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. The scheme aims to attract students to study basic and natural Science subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and pursue research as a career by providing scholarships to interested and deserving students. Under the SHE component, 12,000 scholarships (From the SHE-2017 batch onwards), each valued at ₹ 80,000/- are announced annually to students pursuing Bachelor and Masters level courses in Basic and Natural Science areas.
Tenure
Selected candidates will be supported for a maximum period of five years, starting from the 1st year B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc./Int.M.S. or until the completion of the course, whichever is earlier.
Continuation of the scholarship for the selected candidates is based on good academic performance in the examinations conducted by the University and upon the recommendation by the Head of the Institution.
The following subjects under Basic and Natural Sciences are within the scope of INSPIRE Scholarship for pursuing B.Sc./B.S./Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S. courses:
(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.
Courses other than these subjects such as Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, Seed Technology, Home Science, Geography, Economics, Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree course), Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, Information Technology, Physical Education, courses in Distance Education mode at Open Universities and other professional courses etc. are NOT supported.
Benefits
- ₹5,000 per month (₹60,000 per year) for living and education expenses
- ₹20,000 summer research grant each year to work with a scientist at a recognized research institution
- Total annual value: ₹80,000 per year
- Amount transferred directly to your SBI bank account via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- Up to 12,000 scholarships offered nationally per year
💡 Why Startups Should Care
Edtech startups targeting STEM talent pipelines can find INSPIRE SHE scholars among the most motivated early-career science students in India — worth building partnerships with INSPIRE-affiliated institutions for recruitment.
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be in the top 1% of your Class XII board exam (any state or central board in India)
- OR hold a top 10,000 rank in JEE (IIT), or be a KVPY/NTSE/JBNSTS scholar, or have won an International Science Olympiad medal
- Must be currently enrolled in B.Sc., B.S., or Integrated M.Sc./M.S. in a natural or basic science subject
- Eligible subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Statistics, Geology, Astrophysics, Astronomy, Electronics, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Atmospheric Sciences, and related fields
- Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Computer Science, Biotechnology, and other professional courses are NOT covered
- Must maintain good academic performance each year for the scholarship to continue
- Supported for up to 5 years or until course completion, whichever is earlier
How to Apply
- Watch for the call for applications on online-inspire.gov.in.
- Log in to the INSPIRE portal and click the Scholarship link.
- Read the Offer Letter, then fill in your State Bank of India account details and upload your SBI passbook (first page).
- Upload your marksheets and Performance Reports for each year of your course.
- Click Submit — you will receive a confirmation notification.
- Selected candidates receive a Provisional Offer Letter on their portal account — download it and follow instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Shall Be The Tenure Of The Scholarship?
Selected candidates will be supported for a maximum period of five years, starting from the 1st year B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc./Int.M.S. or until the completion of the course, whichever is earlier.
What Are The Criteria For The Continuation Of The Scholarship?
Continuation of the scholarship for the selected candidates is based on good academic performance in the examinations conducted by the University and upon the recommendation by the Head of the Institution.
What Is The Amount Of The Scholarship?
The scholarship is valued at [?] 80,000/- per annum.
How Much Shall The Summertime Mentorship Grant Be?
The Summertime Mentorship Grant of [?] 20,000/- will be paid every year.
How Will The Amount Of The Scholarship Be Disbursed?
The scholarship will be transferred to the scholar's State Bank of India (SBI) bank account directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Where Can I Find The URL To The PDF Document Of The User Manual Of The Application Process?
The PDF document of the User Manual of the Application Process can be found at: https://online-inspire.gov.in/Content/guidelines.pdf
Under Whom Can The SHE Scholars Undertake Summer Research Projects?
All the SHE scholars are required to undertake summer research projects under an active researcher in any recognized research centre across India.
What Are The Full Names Of KVPY And NTSE?
The full name of KVPY is "Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana". The full name of NTSE is "National Talent Search Examination".
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Class XII marksheets (mandatory)
- Class X marksheet/certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Endorsement certificate signed by Principal/Director/Registrar of your college
- Front page of SBI bank passbook
- Annual BSc/MSc marksheets
- Performance Reports