INSPIRE Fellowship 2026: Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) Guidelines
Complete guide to the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE). Learn about eligibility, 80,000 INR annual grant, and application process for science stud
The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is a flagship program of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. Specifically, the Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) component aims to attract talent to the study of natural and basic sciences at the BSc and MSc levels by providing significant financial incentives to meritorious students.
What is this scheme?
The INSPIRE Scholarship (SHE) is a competitive fellowship offered to 10,000 students annually. It is designed to support students pursuing undersgraduate and postgraduate degrees in Natural and Basic sciences. The scholarship highlights the transition from traditional learning to research-based education by offering a mentorship grant in addition to the base scholarship amount.
Who is eligible?
- Students must be within the top 1% of their respective Class 12th Board examinations (State or Central).
- Students must be enrolled in a regular BSc, BS, or Integrated MSc/MS program in Basic and Natural Sciences.
- Top 10,000 rankers in JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced), or NEET (UG) who choose to pursue Natural Sciences.
- KVPY, NTSE, JBNSTS scholars and International Olympiad medalists pursuing undergraduate science courses.
- The age of the applicant must be between 17 and 22 years.
How much money?
A total of 80,000 INR per annum. This includes a monthly stipend of 5,000 INR (totalling 60,000 INR) and a Mentorship Grant of 20,000 INR for summer research projects.
Documents needed
- Class 12th Marksheet (mandatory)
- Class 10th Marksheet/Certificate (for DOB proof)
- Endorsement Form signed by the Head of the Institution
- Eligibility Note/Advisory Note provided by the State/Central Board
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- Passbook copy or cancelled cheque of a Savings Bank Account in a Nationalized Bank
How to apply (step by step)
- Visit the official INSPIRE-DST online portal.
- Register as a new user to generate login credentials.
- Fill out the SHE application form with academic and personal details.
- Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the specified format (PDF/JPEG).
- Submit the application and download the acknowledgement for future reference.
- Monitor the portal for the announcement of the 'Selection List' or 'Rejection List'.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Applications | As per latest notification, verify on official portal |
| Application Deadline | As per latest notification, verify on official portal |
| Release of Selection List | Typically 3-4 months after application closure |
Conclusion
The INSPIRE SHE scholarship is a transformative opportunity for students passionate about scientific research. By easing the financial burden and encouraging summer internships through mentorship grants, it ensures that India's brightest minds contribute to the global scientific community. Eligible students should keep their documents ready and apply as soon as the portal opens for the current academic cycle.
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