Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on 23rd July 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report details the progress of the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme over the last five years (2021–2026). Managed by the Department of Science and Technology, the initiative aims to nurture scientific talent across four distinct academic stages. Key highlights include financial support for students and researchers, specialized outreach for rural and aspirational districts, and mentorship collaborations with premier scientific institutions.
Key Points / Main Content
Programme Components and Financial Support
INSPIRE MANAK: Targets students aged 10–17 (Classes VI–XII) to foster scientific creativity and original innovations.
INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE): Provides 12,000 annual scholarships of ₹80,000 per year to meritorious students aged 17–22 pursuing natural and basic sciences at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
INSPIRE Fellowship: Supports full-time Ph.D. researchers for up to five years with monthly stipends of ₹37,000 (JRF) and ₹42,000 (SRF), plus House Rent Allowance and an annual ₹20,000 contingency grant.
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship: Offers postdoctoral researchers (aged 27–32) a five-year fellowship including ₹1,25,000 per month, annual increments, and a ₹35 lakh research grant.
Outreach and Inclusivity Initiatives
Targeted Regions: Focused interventions are directed at rural, remote, and aspirational districts to ensure equitable access to science education.
Dissemination Channels: Information is shared via State Education Departments, District Education Officers, digital platforms, and awareness webinars.
Competitions: The programme utilizes District, State, and National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (DLEPCs, SLEPCs, and NLEPCs) to identify talent.
Mentorship and Strategic Growth
Institutional Collaboration: Selected students receive guidance on prototype development and research from premier institutions including IITs, NITs, and IISERs.
Performance Monitoring: The government monitors the impact of all components to facilitate strategic planning and enhance innovative research by the younger generation.
Impact Analysis
School Students (Ages 10–17)Impact
Students gain a platform to showcase original ideas and receive innovation grants and mentoring support to strengthen their scientific temper.
Action Required
Develop and submit original innovations through school nominations and participate in District, State, and National level competitions.
Meritorious Higher Education Students (Ages 17–22)Impact
Increased access to science education through 12,000 annual scholarships valued at ₹80,000 each for pursuing natural and basic sciences.
Action Required
Maintain merit-based academic standing and pursue undergraduate/postgraduate degrees in natural or basic sciences to qualify for SHE.
Ph.D. and Postdoctoral ResearchersImpact
Recipients receive significant financial stability through long-term fellowships (up to five years) and substantial research grants to pursue full-time scientific inquiry.
Action Required
Apply for fellowships within the specified age brackets (notably 27–32 for Faculty Fellowships) and commit to full-time research and prototype development.
Educational Authorities and Premier Institutions (IITs, NITs, IISERs)Impact
State and District departments benefit from capacity-building workshops, while premier institutions play a critical role in the national innovation ecosystem through mentorship.
Action Required
Improve the quality and reach of nominations, organize orientation programs, and provide guidance to students on research and prototype development.
Key Entities Referenced
Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme: A flagship nationwide program designed to nurture scientific talent at various stages, from school students to postdoctoral researchers.
Department of Science and Technology: The nodal government department responsible for implementing and monitoring the INSPIRE program and its components.
INSPIRE-MANAK: The 'Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge' component that promotes innovation and creativity among school students aged 10-17.
INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE): A component providing annual scholarships to meritorious students aged 17-22 years pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in natural and basic sciences.
INSPIRE Fellowship: A scheme providing financial support (Junior/Senior Research Fellowships) for graduates to pursue full-time Ph.D. programs in science and technology.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROGRESS OF
INSPIRE PROGRAMME
प्रव तथ: 23 JUL 2026 4:07PM by PIB Delhi
Over the last five years, the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme of
the department of science and technology has systematically nurtured scientific talent at different stages of
the academic and research pipeline through its four major components. INSPIRE MANAK (Million
Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) promotes innovation and scientific creativity
among students aged 10-17 years (Classes VI-XII) by encouraging them to develop and showcase original
ideas and innovations. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) supports meritorious students
aged 17-22 years pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in natural and basic sciences by
awarding 12,000 scholarships annually, each valued at ₹80,000 per year. INSPIRE Fellowship encourages
outstanding graduates and INSPIRE scholars to pursue research through full-time Ph.D. programme(s) by
providing financial support up to five years, including a fellowship of ₹37,000 per month as Junior
Research Fellow (JRF), ₹42,000 per month as Senior Research Fellow (SRF), admissible House Rent
Allowance (HRA), and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000. INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship supports
outstanding postdoctoral researchers, generally in the 27-32 years age group (with applicable age
relaxations for reserved categories), through a five-year fellowship. Fellows receive ₹1,25,000 per month,
an annual increment of ₹2,000, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh over the fellowship period.
The Government has been committed to promotion of the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired
Research (INSPIRE) Programme to encourage meritorious students to pursue higher education and
research in science. The component-wise INSPIRE activities during the last five years, including the
number of students and young researchers supported under each component, are provided below:
Program/Financial Year 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
INSPIRE-MANAK 52720 43381 46926 50009 49805
INSPIRE-SHE 18039 19771 18236 20354 24276
INSPIRE Fellowship 2768 2872 2811 2448 3364
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship 474 338 299 225 477
With a goal to enhance innovative research by the young generation in the country, impact of these
components is being monitored and analysed to facilitate their strategic planning.
The Government has undertaken a series of targeted interventions to significantly expand the outreach and
inclusivity of INSPIRE Programme, with a special focus on rural, remote and aspirational districts across
the country. These efforts include extensively deep dissemination of information through State EducationDepartments, District Education Officers, schools and digital platforms; organization of awareness
campaigns, orientation programmes, webinars, and capacity-building workshops for teachers and school
authorities to improve the quality and reach of nominations; and the conduct of District, State, and
National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (DLEPCs, SLEPCs, and NLEPCs) to identify,
recognize and nurture innovative ideas among school students. To further strengthen the innovation
ecosystem, mentorship programmes have been organized in collaboration with premier institutions such as
IITs, NITs, IISERs, and other leading scientific organizations, providing selected students with guidance
on prototype development, innovation, and scientific research. These sustained efforts have led to
inclusive participation in the INSPIRE programmes spanning various regions across the country, sections
of our society.
A growing number of students from rural and remote districts have benefited through innovation grants,
mentoring support, and opportunities to showcase their scientific talent on national platforms.
Collectively, these interventions have strengthened the scientific temper and culture of inquiry, fostered
grassroots innovation, expanded equitable access to science education, scholarships and research
fellowships and broadened the pipeline of young scientific talent from most regions of the country.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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