Lok Sabha Question No. 1825 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: INSPIRE Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar, Shri Karan Bhushan Singh, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1825 ANSWERED ON 10/12/2025

## INSPIRE SCHEME

†1825. SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:

SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI KARAN BHUSHAN SINGH:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the 'Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)'  scheme  is  being  implemented  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the objectives and salient features of the same;
- (b) whether the amendments have been made in INSPIRE programme to encourage ideas that have the potential to address societal needs while science and technology through emphasizing 'original ideas';
- (c) if so, the number of targeted 'original ideas' during a financial year and the amount fixed for such awards;
- (d) the  criteria  used  for  selecting  schools  to  collect  such  'original ideas';
- (e) the details of the steps taken by the Government in this regard in Rajasthan, particularly in the Rajsamand Lok Sabha Constituency during the last five years; and
- (f) the measures proposed by the Government to enhance mentoring, incubation,  prototype  development  and  industry  linkage  for  INSPIRE awardees  to  help  them  convert  their  innovative  ideas  into  scalable solutions?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes, 'Innovation in Science  Pursuit for Inspired  Research (INSPIRE)'  Scheme of Department of Science and Technology (DST) is being implemented in the country. The scheme 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 spread across all States/UTs across the country. The ultimate aim is to expand the R&D base of the country.

INSPIRE MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and  Knowledge)  scheme  is  implemented  with  objectives  (i)  to  attract young  students  to  study  science  and  pursue  research  career  (ii)  to promote creative thinking and foster a culture of innovation among them. The INSPIRE MANAK Scheme intends to target young students in the age group of 10-17 years and studying in class VI to XII. All schools in the country, recognized by the District / State Education authorities, whether Government or private, aided or un-aided, run by Central Government or State Government or local bodies, and having classes 6 to 12 are eligible to nominate 5 students from their schools, during the financial year. The nominations are sought from schools, by the Department, during specific portal period of the year, through online mode at E-MIAS (www.inspireawards-dst.gov.in).

The nomination process includes submitting of basic details of the students, bank account details, along with a brief idea/ synopsis of the proposed model/project. These online nominations are scrutinized on the basis  of  the  idea  provided  by  the  students  and  the  selected  students receive  financial  assistance  of  Rs.10,000/-  each,  for  preparation  of exhibitions organized at three levels viz. District, State and National. The financial assistance under this scheme is being transferred directly into the bank project/model/showcasing of idea and participation at accounts of the students through Direct Benefit Transfer.

INSPIRE Internship aims at providing exposure to 50,000 top 1% students at Class X Board level by organizing Science Camps 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 opt for science subjects for further studies.  The internship camps are residential for a period of 5 days per camp.

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 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. 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  PhD  program.  The  Fellowship  amount including the contingencies is equivalent to CSIR-UGC NET Fellowship and is governed time to time as per Govt. of India norms and regulations. At present, each fellow shall receive Rs 37,000/- per month + admissible HRA based on Host Institute city + 20,000 annual contingency as JRF and Rs. 42,000/- per month + admissible HRA based on Host Institute city + 20,000

annual contingency as SRF.

INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides opportunities to the postdoctoral researchers in the age group of 27-32 years for 5 years INSPIRE Faculty  Fellowship  in  both  basic  and  applied  sciences  area  including engineering, agriculture, veterinary and medicine. The upper age limit as on  1 st   January  of  the  year  of  advertisement  for  General  category applicants  is  32  years.  However,  the  upper  age  limit  for  SC/ST/Women candidates will be 37 years. For persons with benchmark disability the upper age limit is 42 years. Each fellow shall receive fellowship of Rs 1,25,000/- per month with an annual increment of Rs. 2000/- and Rs 35 lakh

(at the rate of Rs 7.0 lakh per year) of Research Grant for 5 years.

- (b) to (c): Yes,  the  Scheme  has  been  revamped  to  encourage original ideas with potential to address societal needs through science and technology. Under the revised framework, shortlisted students from State Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (SLPECs) are provided mentoring support at premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IISERs and Central Universities in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation  (NIF)  to  further  refine  and  develop  their  innovations.  The Scheme aims to receive one million original ideas each financial year from eligible  schools  across  the  country.  Selected  students  are  provided financial assistance of ₹10,000 each for development of their project/model and for participation in exhibitions at the District, State and National levels.
- (d) All schools in the country that are recognized by the respective District or State Education authorities whether Government, Governmentaided, private, or run by Central or local bodies and having classes 6 th  12 th  are eligible to participate and submit original ideas under the Scheme.

- (e) To enhance awareness of the Scheme in Rajasthan, including the Rajsamand  Lok  Sabha  Constituency,  the  Department  has  undertaken several measures such as organizing orientation workshops for teachers and District/State Nodal Officers, disseminating audio-visual promotional materials and brochures to schools, and operationalizing a cloud-based web portal and mobile application for seamless nomination and evaluation processes. A pilot teacher-training component has also been introduced to  improve  the  quality  of  innovations.  During  the  last  five  years,  42 awareness workshops were conducted across Rajasthan, including five online  workshops  specifically  for  Rajsamand,  benefiting  around  3,500 teachers.
- (f) To enhance mentoring, incubation, prototype development and industry linkage for INSPIRE awardees, the Government has established a  structured  mentoring  and  capacity-building  ecosystem.  State-level awardees are provided mentorship at premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IISERs, and Central Universities in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF). During the last five years, 119 mentorship workshops have been conducted, benefitting 1,823 students in strengthening  their  innovations  and  prototype  development.  Promising ideas  are  further  supported  through  incubation  linkages,  technical handholding, and facilitation for Intellectual Property Rights protection. Under the programme, 195 patents have been filed to date, of which 38 have been granted in the name of student innovators.

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