Lok Sabha Question No. 6006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Components of INSPIRE Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Shri Alok Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6006 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026

## COMPONENTS OF INSPIRE SCHEME

## †6006. SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR: SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  number  of  students  supported  under  various components of the INSPIRE Scheme during the last three years along with  the  number  of  students  from  Bhopal  and  Dahod  Lok  Sabha Constituency included in it;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  expanded  the  programme  to encourage innovation and research among school students through initiatives like INSPIRE MANAK Standard;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- the details of number of schools and districts covered under the said  schemes  so  far  including  district-wise,  Madhya  Pradesh  and
- (d) Bhopal; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to increase the participation of  students  from  rural  areas  and  under-represented  groups  in scientific research programmes?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  Innovation in Science  Pursuit for Inspired  Research (INSPIRE)  Scheme  of  the  Department  of  Science  and  Technology (DST), Government of India is a national initiative aimed at attracting talented  youth  to  study  basic  and  natural  sciences  and  pursue research careers in areas such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences, thereby strengthening the country's research  and  development  base.  The  scheme  operates  through multiple components across different educational stages. INSPIRE-

MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) targets students aged 10-17 studying in Classes VI-XII by encouraging innovative ideas and scientific curiosity; schools can nominate up to five students annually through the E-MIAS portal, and selected students receive ₹10,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer to develop  and  present  their  projects  at  district,  state,  and  national exhibitions. Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) supports talented  students  aged  17-22  with  12,000  scholarships  each  year worth ₹80,000 per annum to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in basic and natural sciences along with mentoring opportunities. At the  research  level,  the  INSPIRE  Fellowship  supports  outstanding students pursuing PhD programs for up to five years with fellowships equivalent to CSIR-UGC NET (₹37,000 per month as JRF and ₹42,000 as  SRF  plus  HRA  and  contingency  grant  of  ₹20,000  per  annum). Additionally, the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship offers early-career postdoctoral researchers aged 27-32 a five-year fellowship with ₹1,25,000 per month, annual increments, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh to establish independent research careers in basic and applied sciences. Together, these components create a continuous pipeline to nurture scientific talent from school level to advanced research. The details of number of students supported under various components of the INSPIRE Scheme during the last three years are given below:

| INSPIRE Components         | No. of students supported   | No. of students supported   | No. of students supported   |
|----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| INSPIRE Components         | 2023-24                     | 2024-25                     | 2025-26                     |
| INSPIRE-MANAK              | 46926                       | 50009                       | 49805                       |
| INSPIRE -SHE               | 7976                        | 9494                        | 9046                        |
| INSPIRE Fellowship         | 796                         | 305                         | 923                         |
| INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship | 100                         | 58                          | 171                         |

During the last three years, out of the total number of beneficiaries, 224 INSPIRE-MANAK, 35 INSPIRE-SHE, 88 INSPIRE Fellowship, and 11 INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship beneficiaries are from Bhopal, while 146 INSPIRE-MANAK and 1 INSPIRE-SHE beneficiaries are from the Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency.

(b) to (c): The Ministry has expanded its efforts to promote innovation and research among school students through initiatives

like INSPIRE-MANAK. This programme targets students from Classes 6  to  12,  encouraging  them  to  submit  original  and  creative  ideas. Selected students receive financial assistance of ₹10,000 to develop prototypes of their ideas. The scheme has been broadened to include a larger number of schools across the country, with a special focus on  rural  and  government  institutions  to  ensure  wider  access.  It provides  a  well-structured  platform  where  students  can  showcase their  ideas  at  district,  state,  and  national  levels.  Additionally, mentoring support is offered throughout the process to help nurture scientific  thinking,  creativity,  and  problem-solving  abilities  among students.

## (d) The  details  of  the  number  of  schools  and  districts  covered across the country under the scheme, including district-wise data for Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal district, are given below:

| Financial Year   |   No. of students participated |   No. of schools participated No. |   of districts covered |
|------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------|
| 2023-24          |                         854553 |                            224283 |                    719 |
| 2024-25          |                        1013229 |                            253459 |                    723 |
| 2025-26          |                        1147343 |                            274528 |                    729 |

The details of the number of students, schools, and districts covered in Madhya Pradesh under the scheme during the last three years are given below:

| District   |   No. of students participated |   No. of schools participated |
|------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Agar Malwa |                            881 |                           269 |
| Alirajpur  |                           1007 |                           249 |
| Anuppur    |                           1212 |                           408 |
| Ashoknagar |                           2495 |                           903 |
| Balaghat   |                           4446 |                          1188 |
| Barwani    |                            709 |                           241 |
| Betul      |                           5321 |                          1373 |
| Bhind      |                            970 |                           300 |
| Bhopal     |                           3175 |                           880 |
| Burhanpur  |                            827 |                           285 |
| Chhatarpur |                           3162 |                           826 |
| Chhindwara |                          12245 |                          2982 |

| District      | No. of students participated   | No. of schools participated   |
|---------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Damoh         | 4395                           | 1263                          |
| Datia         | 1649                           | 490                           |
| Dewas         | 2859                           | 906                           |
| Dhar          | 5536                           | 1446                          |
| Dindori       | 1198                           | 334                           |
| Guna          | 2159                           | 729                           |
| Gwalior       | 2245                           | 634                           |
| Harda         | 1267                           | 402                           |
| Hoshangabad   | 4182                           | 1274                          |
| Indore        | 2853                           | 870                           |
| Jabalpur      | 3673                           | 1071                          |
| Jhabua        | 264                            | 72                            |
| Katni         | 2125                           | 567                           |
| Khandwa (East |                                |                               |
| Nimar)        | 3187                           | 833                           |
| Khargone      | 1229                           | 359                           |
| Maihar        | 42                             | 9                             |
| Mandla        | 781                            | 275                           |
| Mandsaur      | 1458                           | 401                           |
| Morena        | 1628                           | 451                           |
| Narsinghpur   | 2948                           | 870                           |
| Neemuch       | 3290                           | 814                           |
| Niwari        | 1584                           | 371                           |
| Pandhurna     | 22                             | 5                             |
| Panna         | 2987                           | 970                           |
| Raisen        | 2342                           | 719                           |
| Rajgarh       | 1282                           | 463                           |
| Ratlam        | 13170                          | 3001                          |
| Rewa          | 2840                           | 873                           |
| Sagar         | 3682                           | 967                           |
| Satna         | 15077                          | 3262                          |
| Sehore        | 2748                           | 894                           |
| Seoni         | 4058                           | 1278                          |
| Shahdol       | 923                            | 288                           |
| Shajapur      | 2280                           | 643                           |
| Sheopur       | 933                            | 295                           |

| District     |   No. of students participated |   No. of schools participated |
|--------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Shivpuri     |                           2632 |                           659 |
| Sidhi        |                           1953 |                           594 |
| Singrauli    |                           3802 |                          1024 |
| Tikamgarh    |                           2430 |                           610 |
| Ujjain       |                           3436 |                          1235 |
| Umaria       |                           2282 |                           732 |
| Vidisha      |                           2593 |                           925 |
| Narmadapuram |                              5 |                             1 |

(e) The  Ministry  has  implemented  several  targeted  measures  to increase  the  participation  of  students  from  rural  areas  and  underrepresented  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.

*****