The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) 2023 is a scholarship initiative administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for Government of India.
The INSPIRE Scholarship allocates 10,000 scholarships annually, providing each selected candidate with INR 80,000 per year to support their studies in any subject within the field of Natural or Basic Sciences.
Inspire Scholarship Eligibility
Here, I am enlisting just a few mandatory eligibility criteria and not all –
- The age of the applicant should fall within the range of 17 to 22 years.
- Candidates must rank within the top 1% of successful students, based on aggregate marks in their Class 12 board exams.
- Candidates admitted to the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), and the Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Basic Sciences (DAE-CBS) at the University of Mumbai, pursuing courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, are also eligible.
- Those who rank among the top 10,000 in the Joint Entrance Examination of IIT, AIEEE (top 20,000 rankers), and have cleared CBSE-Medical (AIPTM) while opting to study Natural/Basic Sciences are eligible.
- Applicants who are KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojna), National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), Olympiad Medallists, and Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) scholars pursuing courses in Natural/Basic Sciences leading to B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees are eligible.
- Applicants should be enrolled in Natural and Basic Sciences courses at the BSc, BS, and Integrated MSc/MS levels in the same year they pass Class 12.
Inspire Scholarship Documents
Applicants meeting the criteria for INSPIRE eligibility in 2023 are required to submit the necessary documentation to be considered for the scholarship. When applying for an INSPIRE 2023 scholarship, it is essential to include scanned copies of the following documents:
- 10th and 12th class marksheet.
- Passport size photograph
- Certificate specifying rank in a National-level competitive entrance exam (if applying under this category).
- Medallists (if applying under this category).
- Eligibility Note (Not mandatory)
- Certificate specifying the award in KVPY/ JBNSTS/ NTSE/ International Olympic.
- Caste Certificate (for OBC/SC/ST)
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How to Apply for Inspire Scholarship
Applications for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) can be submitted online through the dedicated online portal of the INSPIRE Programme. But before proceeding ensure all necessary documents are scanned and saved as separate files.
The following comprehensive guidelines detail the application process: New users are required to register on the INSPIRE scholarship portal.
- Open the page using https://online-inspire.gov.in/
- Click on ‘New User? Register here
- Click on the link sent on the email ID.
- Enter your user ID and password, and log in.
- Complete the scholarship application form.
- Upload all necessary documents
- Review the entered details by pressing the ‘Print Preview’ button.
- Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
- Save the application reference number for future use.
Selection Process for Inspire Award Scholarship
All applications submitted by potential INSPIRE scholars undergo evaluation based on the specified eligibility criteria. A list of shortlisted candidates is compiled.
The list of shortlisted candidates is made available on both the online portal of INSPIRE and the official website of the INSPIRE program. Subsequently, the selected students are required to download their provisional offer letters from the INSPIRE online portal.
Additionally, shortlisted candidates must upload the necessary documents on their web portal within the stipulated timeframe for further consideration.
The scholarship awards for the selected candidates are disbursed directly into their State Bank of India (SBI) bank accounts through the Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) process.
How to Renew the INSPIRE Scholarship
Applicants seeking renewal must achieve a minimum of 60% marks or a 7.0 GPA on a 10.0-point scale in the annual examinations each year (or 2 semesters).
If a candidate fails to attain the necessary marks in their B.Sc/BS/Int. M.Sc/Int. MS examination, the scholarship for that academic year will be revoked. However, the scholarship can be reinstated in the following academic year if the student’s academic performance meets the required standards.
Also Read: National Scholarship Portal Schemes
Key Considerations to Prevent Application Rejection
To steer clear of rejection, students are advised to carefully review the eligibility criteria for the INSPIRE scholarship in 2023. The major reasons leading to the potential rejection of an Inspire scholarship application are
- Submission of a duplicate application
- 12th-grade marks falling below the cutoff
- Absence of name in the top 1%
- Pursuing a course/subject outside the purview of INSPIRE
- Failure to upload the form or improper formatting
Can I apply for the Inspire scholarship if I am currently enrolled in Class 12?
No, only students who have completed Class 12th are eligible to apply for the SHE Inspire scholarship.
Is it permissible to apply for the Inspire scholarship if I am already benefiting from another scholarship?
No, eligibility for the Inspire 2023 scholarship is not applicable if you are already receiving another scholarship.
Can a student pursuing a B.Tech or engineering degree apply for the Inspire Scholarship 2023?
No, individuals pursuing a B.Tech or an engineering degree are ineligible for this scholarship.
INSPIRE stands for what?
Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research.
After how much time are the students informed about their application status?
Students can typically expect to be informed about their selection for the SHE scholarship after at least four months. This timeline accounts for the substantial volume of applications and the time required for the selection process.