Parliament Question: Components of INSPIRE Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6006 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026 COMPONENTS OF INSPIRE SCHEME †6006. SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR: SHRI ALOK SHARMA: Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) the details of number of students supported under various components of the INSPIRE Scheme during the last three years along with the number of students from Bhopal and Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency included in it; (b) whether the Government has expanded the programme to encourage innovation and research among school students through initiatives like INSPIRE MANAK Standard; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of number of schools and districts covered under the said schemes so far including district-wise, Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal; and (e) the steps taken by the Government to increase the participation of students from rural areas and under-represented groups in scientific research programmes? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) The Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scheme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India is a national initiative aimed at attracting talented youth to study basic and natural sciences and pursue research careers in areas such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences, thereby strengthening the country’s research and development base. The scheme operates through multiple components across different educational stages. INSPIRE- Page 1 of 5MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) targets students aged 10-17 studying in Classes VI–XII by encouraging innovative ideas and scientific curiosity; schools can nominate up to five students annually through the E-MIAS portal, and selected students receive ₹10,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer to develop and present their projects at district, state, and national exhibitions. Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) supports talented students aged 17-22 with 12,000 scholarships each year worth ₹80,000 per annum to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in basic and natural sciences along with mentoring opportunities. At the research level, the INSPIRE Fellowship supports outstanding students pursuing PhD programs for up to five years with fellowships equivalent to CSIR-UGC NET (₹37,000 per month as JRF and ₹42,000 as SRF plus HRA and contingency grant of ₹20,000 per annum). Additionally, the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship offers early-career post- doctoral researchers aged 27–32 a five-year fellowship with ₹1,25,000 per month, annual increments, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh to establish independent research careers in basic and applied sciences. Together, these components create a continuous pipeline to nurture scientific talent from school level to advanced research. The details of number of students supported under various components of the INSPIRE Scheme during the last three years are given below: No. of students supported INSPIRE Components 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 INSPIRE-MANAK 46926 50009 49805 INSPIRE -SHE 7976 9494 9046 INSPIRE Fellowship 796 305 923 INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship 100 58 171 During the last three years, out of the total number of beneficiaries, 224 INSPIRE-MANAK, 35 INSPIRE-SHE, 88 INSPIRE Fellowship, and 11 INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship beneficiaries are from Bhopal, while 146 INSPIRE-MANAK and 1 INSPIRE-SHE beneficiaries are from the Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency. (b) to (c): The Ministry has expanded its efforts to promote innovation and research among school students through initiatives Page 2 of 5like INSPIRE-MANAK. This programme targets students from Classes 6 to 12, encouraging them to submit original and creative ideas. Selected students receive financial assistance of ₹10,000 to develop prototypes of their ideas. The scheme has been broadened to include a larger number of schools across the country, with a special focus on rural and government institutions to ensure wider access. It provides a well-structured platform where students can showcase their ideas at district, state, and national levels. Additionally, mentoring support is offered throughout the process to help nurture scientific thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities among students. (d) The details of the number of schools and districts covered across the country under the scheme, including district-wise data for Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal district, are given below: Financial No. of students No. of schools No. of districts Year participated participated covered 2023-24 854553 224283 719 2024-25 1013229 253459 723 2025-26 1147343 274528 729 The details of the number of students, schools, and districts covered in Madhya Pradesh under the scheme during the last three years are given below: No. of students No. of schools District participated participated Agar Malwa 881 269 Alirajpur 1007 249 Anuppur 1212 408 Ashoknagar 2495 903 Balaghat 4446 1188 Barwani 709 241 Betul 5321 1373 Bhind 970 300 Bhopal 3175 880 Burhanpur 827 285 Chhatarpur 3162 826 Chhindwara 12245 2982 Page 3 of 5No. of students No. of schools District participated participated Damoh 4395 1263 Datia 1649 490 Dewas 2859 906 Dhar 5536 1446 Dindori 1198 334 Guna 2159 729 Gwalior 2245 634 Harda 1267 402 Hoshangabad 4182 1274 Indore 2853 870 Jabalpur 3673 1071 Jhabua 264 72 Katni 2125 567 Khandwa (East Nimar) 3187 833 Khargone 1229 359 Maihar 42 9 Mandla 781 275 Mandsaur 1458 401 Morena 1628 451 Narsinghpur 2948 870 Neemuch 3290 814 Niwari 1584 371 Pandhurna 22 5 Panna 2987 970 Raisen 2342 719 Rajgarh 1282 463 Ratlam 13170 3001 Rewa 2840 873 Sagar 3682 967 Satna 15077 3262 Sehore 2748 894 Seoni 4058 1278 Shahdol 923 288 Shajapur 2280 643 Sheopur 933 295 Page 4 of 5No. of students No. of schools District participated participated Shivpuri 2632 659 Sidhi 1953 594 Singrauli 3802 1024 Tikamgarh 2430 610 Ujjain 3436 1235 Umaria 2282 732 Vidisha 2593 925 Narmadapuram 5 1 (e) The Ministry has implemented several targeted measures to increase the participation of students from rural areas and under- represented groups in scientific research programmes such as INSPIRE-MANAK. To expand outreach, awareness meetings are regularly conducted with State and District Nodal Officers, along with teacher training workshops to sensitize and encourage schools to participate. A comprehensive multimedia campaign using videos, posters, social media, and email communication has also been launched to reach a wider audience, particularly in remote areas. These efforts have led to a steady rise in participation, with notable growth from rural regions. In addition to outreach, the Ministry has strengthened support mechanisms for selected students. Each shortlisted student receives ₹10,000 to develop a prototype of their idea. They are also provided access to mentoring and technical support through Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs). Student’s progress through structured district, state, and national-level competitions, ensuring continued engagement and exposure. Further, mentoring workshops are organized in collaboration with premier institutions such as IITs and NITs for students selected at advanced stages. State-level winners receive financial assistance to refine their prototypes for national-level presentation. At the national level, students are supported with incubation facilities, including patent filing assistance and technical guidance, enabling them to transform their ideas into scalable and socially relevant innovations. ***** Page 5 of 5