Lok Sabha Question No. 996 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: INSPIRE Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 996 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8.2.2023

## INSPIRE SCHEME

## 996.     SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  been  implementing  the  Innovation  in  Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scheme in the State of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to inculcate the innovative potential of the students and encourage their scientific approach through this Scheme; and
- (d) the details of the other schemes being implemented along with this Scheme?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ तथा पृ Øवी ͪव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- (a)  Yes  Sir.  The  Government  has  been  implementing  the  Innovation  in  Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scheme across the country including the State of Andhra Pradesh.
- (b) 'Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)'  Scheme  of Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to attract meritorious youth to study basic and natural sciences at the college and university level and to pursue research careers  in  both  basic  and  applied  science  areas  including  engineering,  medicine, agriculture and veterinary sciences. The ultimate aim is to expand the R&D base of the country.

INSPIRE-  MANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting  National  Aspirations  and  Knowledge) targets young students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in class VI to X. The nominations are sought from schools, by the Department, during specific period of the year, through online mode at E-Management of INSPIRE Award Scheme (E-MIAS) portal.

Under INSPIRE-MANAK, in a financial year, ten (10.0) lakh ideas are targeted from more than five (05) lakh middle and high schools across the country, out of which one (1.0) lakh ideas are shortlisted for an initial award of Rs. 10000 /- each, directly into the bank accounts of the students through Direct Benefit Transfer for preparation of project/model/showcasing of idea.

INSPIRE Internship aims at providing exposure to the top 1% students at Class X Board level  by  organizing  Science  Camps  either  during  summer  or  winter  and  provide opportunity to  them  to  interact  with  Science  icons  from  India  and  abroad,  including Nobel  Laureates,  to  experience  the  joys  of  scientific  pursuit.  These  science  camps nourish the curiosity of students in science, help them to think out-of-the box and attract students at an early age of 16-17 years to choose science subjects for further studies.

Scholarship  for  Higher  Education  (SHE)  aims  to  enhance  the  rate  of  attachment  of talented youth to undertake higher education in science intensive programs by providing scholarships and mentoring through summer attachment with leading researchers. The scheme offers 12,000   Scholarships every year @ Rs 0.80 lakh per year for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in natural and basic sciences for the talented youth in the age group 17-22 years.

INSPIRE  Fellowship  is  offered  to  1000  students  having  secured  1 st  Rank  in  Basic  & Applied  Sciences  including  engineering,  medicine,  agriculture,  veterinary  at  the University/  academic  institute  of  national  importance  i.e.  IITs,  NITs,  IISERs  level examination as well as Inspire Scholars having secure 70% marks in aggregate at the MSc level who are eligible for admission to the PhD Program in any recognized university/ academic  institutions  in  the  country  every  year.  The  Fellowships  are  tenable  for maximum 5 years (2 years as JRF and 3 years as SRF) or completion of PhD, whichever is earlier to pursue full-time Ph.D. program.

INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides opportunities to 100 post- doctoral researchers in the age group of 27-32 years for 5 years in both basic and applied sciences area including engineering, agriculture, veterinary and medicine every year.  Aspirants having Ph.D. with consistent academic track record are considered on competitive basis.

- (c) Government had taken initiative to inculcate innovative potential of the students by  launching  'INSPIRE  MANAK'  to  attract  young  students  (10-15  years)  to  promote creative thinking and foster a culture of innovation among them to pursue research as career. Students are further encouraged to adopt scientific approach through INSPIRE scheme  with  the  next  four  opportunities  throughout  an  individual's  academic  and research career (16-32 years) on competitive basis. INSPIRE Internship (16-17 years)

opportunity is based on top 1% performance in matriculation and pursuing eleventh in Science stream, Scholarship For Higher Education (SHE) (17-22 years)  opportunity is with top 1% performance at 12 th  Class in the respective state and central education boards of the country and interested to undertake Bachelor and Masters level education in natural and basic sciences, INSPIRE Fellowship (22-27 years) is provided based  on 1 st  Rank  in  Basic  &  Applied  Sciences  including  engineering,  medicine,  agriculture, veterinary at the University/ academic institute of national importance i.e. IITs, NITs, IISERs  level  examination  as  well  as  to  INSPIRE  Scholars  who  secure  70%  marks  in aggregate at the M.Sc. level and are eligible for admission to the PhD Program in any recognized university/ academic institutions in the country. INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship (27-32 years) provides opportunity for the post- doctoral research on competitive basis among the doctoral degree holders. At each level mentoring and guidance by experts in the domain area is provided to inculcate the innovative potential of the students and encourage their scientific approach through this Scheme.

- (d) The details of the other schemes being implemented along with this Scheme are as follows:

Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched a new Initiative 'Research Exposure cum Training Programme for Students from North- Eastern States and UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh'  under the INSPIRE Program with special focus on training of the talented youth from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura (North-Eastern States), UT's of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for pursuing research career in frontier areas of Science Technology and Innovation. This will help students from these areas and enable them to compete with their  counterparts  from  other  parts  of  the  country.  It  will  also  support  the  'Samarth Bharat' or 'Skill India' programme of the Government of India.

Since 1993, the DST has been organizing National Children's Science Congress which aims to  nurture  the  children,  in  the  age  group  of  10-17  into  the  process  of  learning science by doing innovative projects. The children pick up innovative projects in the focal  theme  area  and  usually  try  to  solve  a  community  problem.  The  hands-on  and research-based activities lead to development of interest in science.

The  Initiative  in  Research  and  Innovation  in  Science  (IRIS)  in  Science,  Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), is a program which scouts for the students to do research-based projects in field of STEM education. The 20 best projects are awarded in National IRIS Fair and form Team India to represent the country in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held each year in the United States of America (USA).

Additionally, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) with support from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Dept. of Science &  Technology,  Department  of  Space,  Ministry  of  Education  and  Ministry  of  Earth Sciences, implements  National  Olympiad programmes  in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology,  Astronomy, Earth Sciences,  and  Junior  Science.  The  programme comprises  of  multi-level  competitions  for  secondary  and  higher  secondary  level students, culminating in the participation of Indian teams in International Olympiads held annually in the respective subjects. The programme has been running successfully for more than 20 years with a total enrollment of nearly 350,000 students for the first level  of  the  competitions  every  year.  Indian  students  have  consistently  performed excellently at the international Olympiads, with a nearly 100% strike rate of medals, including a large number of the coveted gold medals.

Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  (CSIR)  has  been  running  a  programme "Doctoral  and  Postdoctoral  Fellowships"  under  its  Capacity  Building  and  Human Resource Development Scheme. Under the scheme CSIR has been supporting about 9500 doctoral and postdoctoral research fellows across the country in about 750 R&D institutes, universities, Institutes of National Importance, and Colleges. The CSIR, under its 'National Laboratories Scheme' has been implementing 'Jigyasa (student-scientist connect)  programme'.  The  programme  envisages  opening  up  the  national  scientific facilities to school children, enabling CSIR scientific knowledgebase and facility to be utilized by school children to develop 'Scientific Temper' in the young minds. For this, CSIR  has  signed  MoUs  with  Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan  (KVS),  NVS  (Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti), Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog, National Council of Science Museum  (NCSM),  Karnataka  Science  and  Technology  Academy  (KSTA),  and  CDO Bulandshahr  to  further  accelerate  the  Student-Scientist  outreach  program  of  CSIR. Taking  forward  CSIR's  Jigyasa  program  to  millions  of  school  students,  the  JigyasaVirtual  Lab  concept  has  been  formalized.  The  Virtual  Lab  platform,  developed  in partnership  with  MHRD/IITB,  shall  enhance  the  scientific  temper  amongst  school children where the students will read, have fun and carry out experiments and materials which are presented by the CSIR scientists and other stakeholders. These will be based on the day to day needs, keeping informed on how science can be used in everyday life with the purpose of increasing the scientific curiosity and temper in an engaging way and thereby attracting the students towards the Virtual Lab. With these programme and interaction between students and scientists, enables students to think creatively and understand the basic science behind a concept.

ICAR-IARI, New Delhi is running courses on Agricultural Sciences and allied subjects. The students admitted for Ph.D; M.Sc./M.Tech; and B.Sc./B.Tech. degree programmes

(UG starting from academic session 2022-23) are currently availing fellowships under ICAR-JRF/SRF/IARI Fellowship, ICAR-PG Scholarship/IARI Fellowship; National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students - Scholarship (Formally Top-Class Education for Schedule Tribe Students) and Under-graduate programme has only started from this academic session i.e., 2022-23.

SERB Research Scientists  (SRS)  Scheme  was initiated to  provide  a  platform  for  the sustainment  of  research  careers  for  INSPIRE  faculty  and  Ramanujan  Fellows  for  an additional period of two years. The amount of fellowship is Rs. 1,20,000 per month and in  addition  a  research  grant  of  Rs.  7.0  lakhs  per  annum  and  overhead  charges  are provided.

Department of Higher Education (DoHE) is implementing two Central Sector Scholarship Schemes under the  umbrella  scheme  'Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Protsahan (PM-USP)  Yojana'  namely  (i)  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  Scholarship  for  College  and University Students: Scholarship is provided to students who are in top 20 th  percentile of successful candidates in class XII and having family income up to ₹ 4.5 lakh p.a. for pursuing  higher  studies  to  eligible  meritorious  students.  82,000  scholarships  are available for award every year (41000 for boys and 41000 for girls). These have been divided amongst the State Education Boards based on the State's population in the age group of 18-25 years. Amount of scholarship is ₹ 12,000/- p.a. for the first three years and  ₹  20,000/-  p.a.  for  the  fourth  and  fifth  year,  (ii)  Special  Scholarship  Scheme  for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: The Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (SSS for J&K and Ladakh) aims at encouraging the youth from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to take advantage of the educational institutions outside these UTs, which would provide them an opportunity, to interact with their counterparts from the rest of the country, thereby helping them become a part of the mainstream. Students of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh having family income of up to ₹ 8.0 lakh p.a. and having passed Class XII/Equivalent Examination from these UTs are eligible to apply under the scheme. Students who  have secured admission outside these  UTs  either in allotted seats  through  centralized  counselling  as  well  as  those  students  who  have  taken admission in Central Universities or Medical/Engineering Colleges based on Government conducted  National  level  examination  are  eligible  for  award  of  scholarship.  5000 scholarships  are  provided  every  year  (2070  for  General  Degree  Courses,  2830  for Professional  Courses  and  100  for  Medical  Courses).  Scholarship  is  provided  towards tuition fee and maintenance allowance. The rate of scholarship towards tuition fee for General Degree courses is ₹ 30,000 p.a., for Professional courses ₹ 1.25 lakh p.a. and for Medical studies ₹ 3.0 lakh p.a. Fixed maintenance allowance of ₹ 1.0 lakh p.a. is provided to all students under the scheme.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is encouraging students by providing studentship under postgraduate teaching programme implemented in 70 institutions. Department is providing studentship (scholarship) to all selected students @ ₹ 5000/- p.m, for M.Sc., Biotechnology, ₹  7500/-  p.m.  for  M.Sc.  Agriculture  Biotechnology  and  ₹  12000/-  per month.  for  M.V.Sc./M.Tech  Biotechnology  students  under  these  courses.  DBT  has implemented  70  postgraduate  teaching  courses  in  62  universities  and  institutions across  the  country,  offering  general  biotechnology  courses  and  specialized  courses such as medical, agricultural, marine, veterinary, industrial, food and pharmaceutical biotechnology,  and  human  genetics.  For  encouraging  the  R&D  activities,  DBT  is providing  thesis  grant  of  ₹  50,000/-  per  student  for  in-house  dissertation  work  of  6 months duration as an integral part of post graduate degree to ensure hands on training. Students are selected through the national level Graduate Aptitude Test-Biotechnology (GAT-B) examination for admission under DBT supported courses.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is implementing various scholarships schemes. (i) AICTE Post Graduate (PG) Scholarship Scheme: To ensure development of technical  education  in  India,  AICTE  awards  Post  Graduate  Scholarship  to  Graduate Aptitude  Test  in  Engineering  (GATE)/  Graduate  Pharmacy  Aptitude  Test  (GPAT)  / Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) qualified students @ ₹ 12,400/- per month through its Post Graduate (PG) Scholarship Scheme for the duration of 2 years. PG Scholarship is awarded to students admitted in Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Architecture, Master of Design and Master of Pharmacy courses in AICTE approved Institutions and AICTE approved University/Departments; (ii) AICTE Pragati Scholarship Scheme for Girl Students started in 2014 to award scholarship of upto ₹ 50,000/- per annum to meritorious girl  students to encourage  them to pursue higher education. Scheme offers 10,000 scholarships per annum (5000 for Diploma and 5000 for Degree) to the students admitted in AICTE approved institution and are in 1 st year of Degree/ Diploma level course or 2 nd  year of Degree/ Diploma level course through lateral entry. Maximum two girls per family and total income of the family < ₹ 8 lakh per annum (iii) AICTE Saksham Scholarship Scheme for Differently-Abled Students started in 2014 to award scholarship of up to ₹ 50, 000/- per annum to differently abled students to  encourage  them  to  pursue  higher  education.  Scheme  offers  scholarship  to  the Differently-Abled Students admitted in AICTE approved institution in 1 st  year of Degree/ Diploma level course or 2 nd  year of Degree/ Diploma level course through lateral entry. Total income of the family < ₹ 8 lakh per annum and Disability is ≥ 40%.

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