Parliament Question: Promotion of Science Education and INSPIRE Scholarships in Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6128 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026 PROMOTION OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND INSPIRE SCHOLARSHIPS IN UTTAR PRADESH

6128. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to

state:

(a) the details of number of students from Mau district including Ghosi constituency, who received INSPIRE scholarships during the years 2024-26 along with the total scholarship amount disbursed;

(b) whether any students or institutions from the district have been supported under research or fellowship components of INSPIRE and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any science outreach or innovation promotion programmes have been conducted in Mau district during the said period;

(d) whether any review has been undertaken regarding regional disparities in access to science scholarships; and

(e) the steps taken to promote STEM education and research participation in rural areas such as Ghosi? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) The Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), a component of INSPIRE, aims to enhance the rate of engagement of talented youth in pursuing higher education in science-intensive programs by providing scholarships and mentoring through summer attachments with leading researchers. The scheme offers 12,000 scholarships every year at the rate of ₹0.80 lakh per annum for pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s level education in natural and basic sciences for talented youth in the age group of 17-22 years. The scholarship amount under this scheme is Page 1 of 4transferred directly into the bank accounts of the students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The details of the number of students from Mau district, including the Ghosi constituency, who received INSPIRE scholarships during the last three years along with the total scholarship amount disbursed, are given below:

Financial No. of Scholarship No. of Scholarship released Year released in Mau District in Ghosi Constituency No. of Amount No. of Amount students Disbursed students Disbursed (Rs. in Lakh) (Rs. in Lakh) 2023-24 93 190.20 11 24.00 2024-25 79 188.40 9 21.00 2025-26 84 223.20 3 14.40

(b) The INSPIRE Fellowship is awarded to students who have secured the first rank in Basic and Applied Sciences, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences, at the university or academic institution level, including institutions of national importance such as IITs, NITs, and IISERs. It is also offered to INSPIRE Scholars who have secured at least 70% aggregate marks at the M.Sc. level and are eligible for admission to a Ph.D. programme in any recognized university or academic institution in the country.

The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides opportunities to post- doctoral researchers in the age group of 27–32 years by offering a five- year fellowship in both basic and applied sciences, including engineering, agriculture, veterinary sciences, and medicine. The details of number of students supported under these components in the State of Uttar Pradesh including Mau district during the last three

years are given below:

Financial INSPIRE Fellowship INSPIRE Faculty Year Fellowship Released Released No. of No. of Amount Amount Fellows Fellows (Rs. In Lakh) (Rs. In Lakh) 2023-24 56 304.20 12 174.00 2024-25 18 97.09 2 39.87 2025-26 58 291.39 15 163.75 Page 2 of 4(c) During the past three years, Mau district in Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a steady expansion in science outreach and innovation promotion activities under the INSPIRE–MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) initiative. Each year, a District Level Project Exhibition and Competition (DLPEC) was organized, providing a platform for school students to showcase innovative ideas and scientific projects. Participation from the district increased significantly over time, reflecting improved outreach and growing interest among students. The number of beneficiaries from Mau rose from 11 in 2023–24 to 45 in both 2024–25 and 2025–26, contributing to a total of 101 beneficiaries over the three-year period.

In addition to INSPIRE–MANAK activities, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), through its National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) Division, conducted STEMM demonstration programmes and mobile science exhibitions in the district. These initiatives aimed to strengthen scientific awareness and communication among students, teachers, and the general public.

Special efforts were made to reach rural and underprivileged communities through events such as Vigyan Jagrukta Melas, which promoted scientific thinking and highlighted the importance of science education, particularly among SC/ST and rural students.

Furthermore, support for higher education was extended through the University Grants Commission’s National Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies (NSPG) Scheme, under which 11 students from Mau district received scholarships to pursue postgraduate studies. Collectively, these initiatives contributed to enhancing scientific temperament, encouraging innovation, and broadening participation in science education across Mau district.

(d) The Ministry is regularly undertaking reviews regarding the access of students to science scholarships. INSPIRE-Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) Scheme is implemented following the inclusive growth model which provides equal opportunity to students from across the states. Each Central/State Education Board informs eligible students of their board about their eligibility for INSPIRE scholarship. Call of applications for INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship is notified online; results are declared through the INSPIRE web-portal and students are informed through their respective online web-portal accounts. Scholarship release is through Direct Benefit Transfer Page 3 of 4(DBT) mode in students bank account. Therefore, Ministry ensures that all the students can get fair chance to avail the science scholarship on competitive basis without any disparity.

(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.

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