Lok Sabha Question No. 6110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: INSPIRE scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6110 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026

## INSPIRE SCHEME

## 6110.  MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

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

- (a) the  objectives  and  key  components  of  the  Innovation  in  Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scheme and the number of students covered under the scheme and if so, the details thereof particularly from rural areas;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to promote Science, Technology, Engineering  and  Mathematics  (STEM)  education  and  research  among students in rural area in the country including teacher training, infrastructure support, digital access and laboratory facilities;
- (c) the  outreach  programmes,  competitions,  science  fairs,  mentorship initiatives and partnerships with universities/industry conducted under the INSPIRE Scheme to encourage rural students' participation in STEM fields;
- (d) the evaluation mechanism used to assess the impact of the INSPIRE Scheme  and  other  STEM  promotional  efforts  in  improving  enrolment, performance and career uptake among rural students; and
- (e) the  future  plans  and  resources  allocated  to  further  enhance  STEM education opportunities in rural areas?

## 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  meritorious  youth  to study  basic  and  natural  sciences  at  the  school,  college,  and  university levels, and to pursue careers in both basic and applied research, including fields such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences. The  ultimate  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to  strengthen  and  expand  the country's research and development (R&D) base.

The  scheme  is  implemented  through  multiple  components  designed  to nurture  scientific  talent  across  different  stages  of  education.  INSPIREMANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting  National  Aspiration  and  Knowledge) component targets students aged 10-17 years studying in Classes VI to XII. It aims to foster scientific curiosity and innovation by encouraging students

to develop original ideas. Schools can nominate up to five students annually through the E-MIAS portal. Selected students receive financial support of ₹10,000  through  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  to  develop  their  projects  and participate in district, state, and  national-level exhibitions.  INSPIRE Scholarship  for  Higher  Education  (SHE)  component  supports  talented students  aged  17-22  years  who  wish  to  pursue  undergraduate  and postgraduate  studies  in  basic  and  natural  sciences.  A  total  of  12,000 scholarships is awarded annually, each valued at ₹80,000 per annum, along with mentoring support. INSPIRE Fellowship component provides financial assistance to outstanding students pursuing PhD programmes in science and related fields. The fellowship is awarded  for up to five years and is equivalent to the CSIR-UGC NET fellowship, offering ₹37,000 per month as Junior  Research  Fellowship  (JRF)  and  ₹42,000  per  month  as  Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), along with House Rent Allowance (HRA) and a contingency  grant  of  ₹20,000  per  annum.  INSPIRE  Faculty  Fellowship component  is  aimed  at  early-career  researchers  aged  27-32  years.  It provides a five-year fellowship with a monthly remuneration of ₹1,25,000, annual increments, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh. The objective is to support  post-doctoral  researchers  in  establishing  independent  research careers in both basic and applied sciences. Together, these components create a continuous pipeline that nurtures scientific talent from the school level through to advanced research, thereby contributing to the development of a strong and sustainable scientific workforce in the country.

The details of number of students supported under various components of the  INSPIRE  Scheme including students from rural areas during the last three years are as follows:

| 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 |

The number of INSPIRE-MANAK and INSPIRE-SHE students covered under the scheme in rural areas during the last three years is given below:

|                | INSPIRE-MANAK           | INSPIRE-MANAK                            | INSPIRE-SHE             | INSPIRE-SHE                              |
|----------------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Financial Year | No. of students covered | No. of students covered from rural areas | No. of students covered | No. of students covered from rural areas |
| 2023-24        | 854553                  | 697116                                   | 7976                    | 6256                                     |
| 2024-25        | 1013229                 | 847849                                   | 9494                    | 6645                                     |
| 2025-26        | 1147343                 | 967897                                   | 9046                    | 4648                                     |

(b) to (c): The Government has undertaken a comprehensive set of measures to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)  education  and  research  among  students  across  the  country including rural areas, with a focus on access, innovation, mentorship, and infrastructure development. Under the INSPIRE scheme, several targeted initiatives  have  been  implemented.  The  INSPIRE-MANAK  programme encourages students from Classes VI to XII, including those in rural areas, to  develop  innovative  ideas  and  scientific  thinking.  Financial  support  is provided  to  selected  students  to  convert  their  ideas  into  projects  and models, fostering hands-on learning and creativity. Teachers play a key role in  this  process  and  are  trained  to  identify  and  nurture  innovative  ideas among students. Their capacity is further enhanced through programmes such  as iRISE, particularly its  Teacher  Development  Strand,  which promotes learner-centric and innovation-driven teaching methodologies. To support  higher  education  in  STEM,  the  INSPIRE  Scholarship  for  Higher Education (SHE) provides financial assistance, mentorship, and exposure to research through summer projects under experienced scientists. Scholars also  receive  mentorship  grants  and  opportunities  to  work  in  leading laboratories and institutions, helping bridge the gap between rural students and advanced  research  environments.  The  Early  Career  Researcher Development Strand under iRISE further  strengthens  research  skills  and provides industry exposure to young researchers.

The  Government  has  also  emphasized  strengthening  infrastructure  and laboratory facilities. Schemes such as the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST) and Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) support universities and colleges in upgrading laboratories and research equipment. National facilities like Sophisticated Analytical  Instrument  Facilities  (SAIF)  and  Sophisticated  Analytical  & Technical  Help  Institutes  (SATHI)  provide  shared  access  to  advanced scientific  instruments,  benefiting  institutions,  including  those  in  rural regions, that lack such resources.

Digital access has been improved through enhancements to the INSPIREMANAK  portal,  including  the  introduction  of  a  chatbot  for  guidance, upgraded E-MIAS access  for senior classes, improved U-DISE data synchronization,  and  a  more  user-friendly  nomination  interface.  These measures  have  increased  accessibility,  transparency,  and  efficiency, especially for rural students and schools.

Outreach programmes under the INSPIRE Scheme include science exhibitions, competitions, and science fairs at school, district, and national levels, which encourage participation and showcase student innovations. Students are also given opportunities to visit premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, and AIIMS, where they gain exposure to real-world applications of STEM. Mentorship initiatives connect students with scientists, researchers, and faculty from reputed institutions, providing guidance and

inspiration. Partnerships with universities, research institutions,  and industry stakeholders further enhance opportunities for students by offering access  to  laboratories,  internships,  and  hands-on  learning  experiences. Activities  such  as  coding  sessions,  tinkering  labs,  academic  support classes, and distribution of learning resources help strengthen scientific aptitude.

Overall, these integrated efforts spanning teacher training, infrastructure development,  digital access, laboratory support, outreach activities, competitions, mentorship, and institutional partnerships have created an enabling  ecosystem  that  encourages  and  supports  students  to  actively participate and excel in STEM education and careers.

- (d) The impact of the INSPIRE Scheme and other STEM promotion efforts is assessed through a multi-layered evaluation and monitoring framework. Scheme activities are periodically reviewed by a standing committee and through  annual  group  monitoring  meetings  across  the  country.  Student tracking is a key component to assess academic performance, and higher enrolment in STEM education, including rural students. The scheme has undergone periodic independent evaluations by expert committees upon its continuation  in  successive  phases  which  reviewed  its  effectiveness  in strengthening  the  pipeline  of  scientific  talent.  Individual  scholars  are monitored  through  academic  performance,  continuation  in  studies,  and submission of certified research reports, with financial support linked to these outcomes. Fellowships require annual certification and are evaluated by subject experts to assess scientific progress. At the faculty level, midterm  and  end-term  peer  reviews  measure  research  output,  employment outcomes, and contributions such as publications, patents, and professional recognition. Overall, this continuous evaluation system tracks enrolment,  performance,  and  career  progression,  ensuring  transparency and  helping  assess  the  scheme's  effectiveness  in  promoting  STEM participation and career uptake, particularly among rural students.
- (e) The Government envisages an expanded and strengthened framework for STEM  education including rural areas through STEM  education opportunities with continuation of the existing S&T schemes/programs such as  Vigyan  Jyoti  and  INSPIRE  especially  focusing  on  basic  and  applied research to strengthen the research and development base of the country.

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