Lok Sabha Question No. 1217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Inspire Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, ANIL SHIROLE, Richard Hay, George Baker

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25/7/2018

## INSPIRE SCHEME

## †1217. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI ANIL SHIROLE:

PROF. RICHARD HAY:

SHRI GEORGE BAKER:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Inspire Scheme along with the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this scheme during the last three years and the current year across the country, State/UTwise including Kerala;
- (b) the details of the number of scientists enrolled under this scheme for research during the above-mentioned period;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make some amendments in this scheme, if so, the details thereof along with reasons therefor;
- (d) the details of the target set and achievements made under this scheme so far along with its results;
- (e) the maximum period of time provided under this scheme for research; and
- (f) whether Government is planning to provide some more time to the scientists who fail to secure the regular positions after completion of the regular tenure of the scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) program was conceptualized, designed, developed and is being implemented  by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to identify, sustain and strengthen human capacity for Research and Development base of the country.  It has five components spread over three major schemes. These are:
-  Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS) - INSPIRE Award- MANAK and INSPIRE Internship,
-  Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) - INSPIRE Scholarship, and
-  Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) - INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship.

The broad salient features of the scheme are as under:

-  Aims to attract talents, foster creativity, motivate youth and promote research as career.
-  An integrated scheme for age band of 10-32 years, covering students from 6 th class to post-Ph.D.
-  Respect  existing  examination  systems  in  the  country  either  at  School  or  University  level  for  selection  of  students  in  its  all components, except INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship which is on competitive mode,
-  The  Awards  or  Scholarships  or  Fellowships  are  released  directly  to  students  in  their  Bank  Account  through  Direct  Benefit Transfer mode.

There is no separate allocation of funds with respect to any state or UT. However, the funds sanctioned and released during the last three years including the state of Kerala are given below in the table.

| Year                       |   Funds Released (Rs. in Crores) | Funds Utilized (Rs. in Crores)   |
|----------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2015-16                    |                           475.82 | 475.82                           |
| 2016-17                    |                           454.29 | 454.29                           |
| 2017-18                    |                           519.29 | 519.29                           |
| 2018-19 (as on 16.07.2018) |                           132.72 | UC Not yet due                   |

- (b) 3677 scientists were enrolled for research under this scheme during this period.
- (c) No, Madam.
- (d) The target set for the scheme is 1,61,200 beneficiaries per year at present. So far 18,67,036 students/ researchers have been enrolled in this scheme, since its inception in December, 2008.
- (e) The  maximum  period  of  time  provided  for  research  is  five  years  each  for  INSPIRE  Fellowship  to  pursue  Ph.D.  and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship for post-Ph.D.
- (f) No Madam.
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