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INSPIRE Scheme, Objectives, Implementations, UPSC Notes

17-12-2024

12:30 PM

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research(INSPIRE) is a scheme sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology for attracting talented people towards science. The programme will focus on increasing the research and development and build a human resource pool that would solidify science and technology. 

INSPIRE Scheme Overview

The INSPIRE Scheme aims to attract young talent toward pursuing research as a career by leveraging the existing educational structure for talent identification, without conducting any competitive exams. Covering meritorious youth from school to university levels, the scheme supports those interested in studying science and choosing scientific research as a career. It facilitates human capacity building through scholarships, fellowships, and research exposure, enabling students to develop their skills and pursue opportunities in scientific research.

INSPIRE Scheme Objectives

The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) scheme aims to inspire and engage youth in the excitement of science. It attracts and nurtures talented students to pursue basic and natural sciences at the college and university levels, with a focus on research careers in fields like engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences. This is achieved through the following components:

  • INSPIRE Internship: Provides exposure to the top 1% of students at the Class X Board level by organizing Science Camps during summer or winter. These camps allow students to interact with renowned scientists, including Nobel Laureates, fostering curiosity and inspiring them to pursue science at an early age (16-17 years).
  • Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE): Offers 12,000 scholarships annually to meritorious students aged 17-22 years, encouraging them to study basic and natural sciences at the undergraduate level with additional scholarship and mentorship support.
  • INSPIRE Fellowship: Awards 1,000 fellowships annually to students aged 22-27 years for pursuing Ph.D. in basic and applied sciences, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences.
  • INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship: Provides 100 fellowships annually to young researchers aged 27-32 years with a Ph.D. qualification, offering them the opportunity to carry out research in both basic and applied science areas for a duration of 5 years, helping them establish themselves as independent researchers.

Through these components, the INSPIRE scheme aims to create a robust ecosystem for cultivating future leaders in scientific research.

INSPIRE Components Details

Following are the details of INSPIRE Scheme components:

Scheme Component

Target Group

Target Age Group

Target Number

Aim

INSPIRE Internship

Top 1% students in Class X Boards

16-17 years

50,000

To expose students to joys of creative science during 5-day camps through lectures by experts, innovative experiments etc.

Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE)

Top 1% students in Class XII Boards + top 10000 performers in IIT-JEE + other national exams

17-22 years

12,000

To encourage meritorious students to study B.Sc. & M.Sc. (basic and natural sciences) by providing scholarship (Rs. 60,000/- p.a.) and mentorship grant (Rs. 20,000/- p.a.)

INSPIRE Fellowship

INSPIRE-SHE Scholars with 70% marks in M.Sc. + M.Sc. Toppers with min 70% marks

22-27 years

1000

To encourage students to pursue Ph.D. in areas of S&T, Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy and Veterinary Sciences

INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship

Ph.D.

27-32 years

100

To encourage young researchers to continue research in areas of S&T, Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy and Veterinary Sciences.

INSPIRE Scheme Implementation

  • The INSPIRE Scheme is implemented through a fully automated process via the INSPIRE Web-portal.
  • Applications for INSPIRE components are accepted only during specific call announcements in online mode.
  • Each advertisement for an INSPIRE component includes details such as eligibility criteria, application procedure, required documents, and instructions for online application.

INSPIRE Scheme FAQs

Q1. What is INSPIRE Scheme?
Ans. The INSPIRE Scheme (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) aims to attract and nurture young talent to pursue science and research careers.

Q2. What is the top 1% scholarship in INSPIRE?
Ans. The top 1% scholarship under INSPIRE refers to the INSPIRE Internship, which provides science camps for students scoring in the top 1% at the Class X Board level.

Q3. Who is eligible for INSPIRE Yojana?
Ans. Students aged 16-32 years, depending on the component, who excel in science and meet specific academic criteria are eligible for the INSPIRE scheme.

Q4. What is the INSPIRE Scheme?
Ans. INSPIRE is a government initiative to promote science education and research by supporting meritorious students through scholarships, fellowships, and mentorship.

Q5. Who is eligible for INSPIRE Scholarship?
Ans. Students aged 17-22 years who have enrolled in undergraduate studies in basic and natural sciences and rank among top performers are eligible for INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE).

Q6. What is the objective of the INSPIRE Award?
Ans. The INSPIRE Award aims to foster creativity and innovation among school students by encouraging them to develop scientific ideas and projects.