NSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Science plays an important role in technological progress, innovation and the development of new solutions to real-world problems. However, talented students may need financial support and research opportunities to continue their studies in science and build a career in research. To encourage young minds to explore scientific knowledge, the Government of India launched the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme in 2008. Its Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) component was designed to support meritorious students pursuing eligible undergraduate and integrated postgraduate courses in basic and natural sciences. Under the published scheme guidelines, selected students can receive financial support of up to ₹80,000 per year, including a ₹60,000 annual scholarship and a ₹20,000 research mentorship grant, for a maximum of five years, subject to the applicable conditions.

The INSPIRE programme is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. INSPIRE-SHE aims to encourage talented students to pursue science education and develop an interest in scientific research. Eligibility under the published guidelines includes specified academic merit and recognised talent-based routes, along with enrolment in an eligible basic or natural science course. Students must meet the applicable academic and course requirements, and selected scholars must fulfil the prescribed performance and research mentorship conditions to continue receiving the scholarship.

For students who are passionate about science, financial support can make it easier to continue higher education and explore a future in scientific research. To encourage talented students to pursue science education and research, the Government of India launched the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme in 2008. Its Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) component offers selected students financial support of up to ₹80,000 per year, comprising a ₹60,000 annual scholarship and a ₹20,000 research mentorship grant. Under the published guidelines, this support may continue for up to five years, subject to the prescribed eligibility, academic performance and renewal conditions.

However, students should check the latest status before planning to apply. As of 2026, no new INSPIRE-SHE application call for 2025 or 2026 has been verified, and the Government stated in August 2026 that the scheme was under redesign, without formally announcing its discontinuation. Therefore, prospective applicants should rely on a new official notification for application dates and updated conditions, while existing scholars should continue meeting the applicable renewal, academic performance and document-submission requirements. For assistance, students can refer to the official INSPIRE contact page.

Students exploring other financial assistance opportunities for higher education can also read about the PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students, which provides scholarship support to eligible college and university students, and the Ishan Uday Special Scholarship Scheme, intended for eligible students from the North Eastern Region pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Scheme Benefits

The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) provides financial support to talented students who want to pursue higher education in basic and natural sciences. The main benefits of the scheme include:

• Selected students can receive financial assistance of up to ₹80,000 per year under the published scheme guidelines.
• The scholarship includes an annual stipend of ₹60,000, equivalent to ₹5,000 per month, to help students manage their education-related expenses.
• Students can receive an additional research mentorship grant of ₹20,000 per year to support a summer research project under an eligible mentor.
• Financial support may continue for up to five years or until the eligible course is completed, whichever comes first, subject to the scheme's rules and academic performance requirements.
• The scheme encourages students to pursue B.Sc., B.S. and eligible integrated M.Sc. or M.S. courses in basic and natural sciences.
• Students get an opportunity to gain practical research experience by completing a summer research project under the prescribed guidelines.
• The scheme aims to encourage talented students to pursue scientific research and consider research-oriented careers.
• Existing scholars may continue receiving support if they meet the applicable academic performance, renewal and document-submission requirements.

How Much Scholarship Amount Can Students Receive?

Under the published INSPIRE-SHE guidelines, selected students can receive financial support worth ₹80,000 per year. The amount includes an annual scholarship to support their studies and a research mentorship grant to help them gain practical research experience.

The annual scholarship is equivalent to ₹5,000 per month, although payment is made according to the department's disbursement process rather than necessarily as a monthly transfer. The ₹20,000 mentorship grant supports an eligible summer research project under a research mentor.

Students must complete the prescribed research project and submit the required project report and completion certificate to claim the mentorship grant. The amount is subject to the applicable guidelines, and the grant cannot automatically be carried forward to another academic year if it is not used.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive financial support under the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), students must meet the prescribed academic criteria, qualify through at least one recognised eligibility route and enrol in an eligible science course. The main eligibility requirements under the published guidelines are as follows:

• Applicants should generally be between 17 and 22 years of age.
• Students who rank within the top 1% of their Class 12 board examination may be eligible if they enrol in an eligible undergraduate or integrated postgraduate course in basic or natural sciences.
• Students who qualify through the specified JEE or NEET merit route may be eligible if they pursue an approved basic or natural science course. The applicable rank requirements must be checked in the official guidelines.
• Eligible students pursuing integrated science courses at IISERs, NISER, the University of Mumbai's Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, or Visva-Bharati may qualify under the prescribed academic criteria.
• Students recognised through eligible talent schemes or examinations, such as KVPY, NTSE, JBNSTS or International Science Olympiad medals, may qualify if they meet the applicable conditions.
• Applicants must enrol in an eligible B.Sc., B.S., four-year B.Sc. with Research, Integrated M.Sc. or Integrated M.S. course in basic or natural sciences.
• Eligible subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Statistics, Geology, Astrophysics, Astronomy, Electronics, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Anthropology, Microbiology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanic Sciences.
• Students must satisfy the course, admission-year and other conditions specified in the relevant INSPIRE-SHE notification. Meeting an academic eligibility criterion alone does not guarantee selection.
• Students cannot receive the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship alongside another scholarship at the same time. Applicants should check the official rules and be prepared to provide evidence that they have discontinued any conflicting scholarship, if required.

Required Documents

Students applying for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) must provide documents to verify their academic performance, eligibility and admission to an eligible science course. Based on the published application guidelines, applicants may need the following documents:

• Class 12 marksheet showing the marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
• Class 10 marksheet or certificate as proof of date of birth.
• Endorsement certificate signed by the Principal, Director or Registrar of the institution, as required by the application guidelines.
• JEE or NEET rank certificate, if applying through an eligible entrance-examination route.
• Relevant talent or award certificate, such as an NTSE, JBNSTS, KVPY or International Science Olympiad certificate, if applying through one of these eligibility routes.
• Any additional certificate or supporting document required by the official application form for the applicant's eligibility category.

Applicants should upload clear, legible documents in the format and size specified on the portal. The exact document list may vary according to the eligibility route and the requirements of a particular application call. Check the official INSPIRE portal and its latest guidelines before preparing your application.

Steps to Apply

The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) application process is completed online through the Department of Science and Technology's INSPIRE portal. Students can submit an application only when the department announces a new application call. The following steps explain how to apply when the application window opens.

• First, you need to open the official INSPIRE portal.
• After that on the homepage, look for the Scholarship section and check the announcements for the latest INSPIRE-SHE application notification.
• Read the latest application guidelines and eligibility conditions carefully. Confirm that you meet the academic requirements and are enrolled in an eligible undergraduate or integrated postgraduate course in basic or natural sciences.
• When a new application call is announced, use the application link provided in the relevant notification. If you are a new user, select the registration option and create your portal account using the details requested on the website.
• Log in to your account and open the INSPIRE-SHE application form. Enter your personal details, academic information, qualifying examination details and course or institution information accurately.
• Upload the required documents in the prescribed format. These generally include your Class 12 marksheet, Class 10 certificate or marksheet as proof of date of birth, the prescribed endorsement certificate and any relevant rank or award certificate required for your eligibility category.
• Review the completed form and uploaded documents before submitting the application. Make sure all mandatory fields are filled in and the information matches your supporting documents.
• Submit the application within the deadline announced by the department. Save or print the application confirmation and registration details for future reference, if these options are available.
• After submission, check your portal account and the INSPIRE homepage for selection updates. If provisionally selected, log in to download your offer letter and upload any additional documents within the deadline mentioned in the letter.

INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship Renewal Process

Receiving an initial scholarship offer does not guarantee financial support for the entire course. Under the published rules, scholars must maintain the required academic performance and submit the prescribed documents for continuation of their scholarship.

• Maintain at least 60% marks or a GPA of 7.0 on a 10-point scale in the relevant university or college examination, as specified in the guidelines.
• Pass the examinations in the first attempt. Failure in a subject, or performance below the prescribed minimum, can result in the scholarship being withheld for that academic year.
• Upload the relevant annual or semester marksheet and the prescribed performance report, signed by the Head of the Institution, through the INSPIRE portal.
• Complete the required summer research project under an eligible research mentor and submit the project report and project completion certificate in the prescribed format to claim the mentorship grant.
• Follow the deadlines and document requirements communicated by DST or stated in the applicable guidelines. Scholars should retain copies of uploaded documents and submission confirmations.
• Continue meeting the eligible course and subject requirements throughout the scholarship period.

According to the published FAQs, a scholar who falls below the minimum academic standard may lose the scholarship for that academic year. Support may resume in a subsequent year if the scholar again meets the required academic criteria, subject to the scheme rules. Students should read their offer letter and current portal instructions carefully because the exact reporting schedule and applicable rules may depend on their batch.

For the official continuation requirements, consult the INSPIRE-SHE FAQs and the post-offer implementation guidelines.

Conditions for Continuing the Scholarship

Receiving the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship is only the first step. Students must meet the scheme's academic requirements, submit the required documents and complete their research project to continue receiving financial support. The main conditions are:

• Maintain good academic performance: Students must secure at least 60% marks or a GPA of 7.0 out of 10, as required under the applicable guidelines, and pass examinations on the first attempt.
• Continue in an eligible course: Students must pursue an approved course in basic or natural sciences. Changing the subject or institution may affect the scholarship, so check the rules and seek guidance from the department before making any changes.
• Complete a summer research project: Students must carry out the prescribed research project under an eligible mentor. Under the published guidelines, the project generally lasts at least six to eight weeks and must be completed at an institution other than the student's own college. Group projects are not accepted.
• Submit research documents: Submit the required research project report and completion certificate to claim the research mentorship grant.
• Submit academic records on time: Upload the required marksheets and academic performance report signed by the Head of your institution within the prescribed deadline.
• Maintain the required bank account: Scholarship payments are made through Direct Benefit Transfer. Follow the current portal instructions regarding the bank account, Aadhaar linkage and submission of bank details.
• Check other scholarship rules: The published guidelines restrict receiving another scholarship at the same time. If you receive financial assistance from another scheme, check the applicable rules with DST before accepting or continuing both.
• Avoid an unapproved study gap or transfer: A long gap between eligible courses or a change in course or institution may affect your scholarship under the published rules. Check with the department before making such a decision.

If you do not meet the academic requirements or miss important submission deadlines, your scholarship payments may be withheld or discontinued. Since INSPIRE-SHE is under redesign, some requirements may change. Read your scholarship offer letter and check the official INSPIRE portal for the rules applicable to your batch. If you need clarification, use the official INSPIRE contact page.

Difference Between INSPIRE-SHE and Other INSPIRE Components

The INSPIRE programme supports students and researchers at different stages of their scientific careers. However, each component has a different purpose. INSPIRE-SHE focuses on helping eligible students pursue higher education in basic and natural sciences, while other components encourage school students to explore science or support advanced research.

In simple terms, INSPIRE-SHE supports students during their undergraduate or integrated postgraduate science studies, while the INSPIRE Fellowship and Faculty Fellowship focus on later stages of research. Each component has its own eligibility conditions, benefits and application process.

For details about the programme and its components, visit the Department of Science and Technology's official INSPIRE page. You can also check the INSPIRE portal for official announcements and updated guidelines.

Relevant Links

• Department of Science and Technology (DST) – INSPIRE Scheme
• Official INSPIRE Portal
• INSPIRE-SHE Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• INSPIRE-SHE Post-Offer Implementation Guidelines
• INSPIRE Portal FAQs
• INSPIRE-SHE Contact Information
• Government Update on INSPIRE-SHE Redesign – August 2026

Contact Information

Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India

• Phone: 011-26590221
• Email: [email protected]
• Additional INSPIRE-SHE email: [email protected]
• Address: Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi – 110016
• Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, excluding gazetted holidays
• Official contact page: INSPIRE Contact Us

When emailing the department, begin the subject line with [SHE], followed by a brief description of your query. For example: [SHE] – Scholarship Payment Status. The official portal states that emails without the relevant programme prefix may not receive a response.