INSPIRE Scholarship: Eligibily, Registration, Required Documents, Complete Guide to ₹80,000/Year for Science Students

No. It is strictly for basic sciences only.

No. You must upload the final marksheet and top 1% certificate.

INSPIRE is board performance-based, no exam required unlike KVPY.

Not if it’s major central scholarship like PMSS or NSP-funded scheme.

Answer:
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE):
Age group: 17 to 22 years.
Academic Qualification: Must have passed Class 12th in the current academic year with science subjects.
Merit Criterion: Must be among the top 1% scorers in Class 12 board examinations (recognized state/central boards).
Course of Study: Must be pursuing B.Sc., B.S., or Integrated M.Sc./M.S. courses in Natural and Basic Sciences (like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Geology, Astrophysics, etc.).
Other Criterion: Students who have qualified national-level competitive exams such as JEE (Main/Advanced), NEET, or secured admission in IISERs, NISER, or university departments of science may also be eligible.

There is no fixed minimum percentage mentioned, but students must be in the top 1% of their respective Class 12 board exam. The exact cutoff varies by board and year.
For example:
If 1% of candidates from CBSE who appeared in 12th scored above 95%, then that becomes the general cutoff.
Cutoffs are published every year by DST for each state and board.

Under the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) scheme:
Each selected student receives ₹5,000 as an incentive to prepare a science or innovation project or model.
This is meant for students of Class 6 to 10.
The ₹5,000 grant is used for materials, model development, and presentation in science exhibitions at school, district, state, and national levels.

हाँ, INSPIRE स्कॉलरशिप उन छात्रों के लिए होती है जो 12वीं कक्षा में टॉप 1% में आते हैं और इसके बाद बीएससी, बीएस या इंटीग्रेटेड एमएससी जैसे बेसिक साइंस कोर्स में एडमिशन लेते हैं। ये स्कॉलरशिप 12वीं पास छात्रों को उच्च शिक्षा के लिए विज्ञान के क्षेत्र में प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए है।

You are not eligible for INSPIRE scholarship if:
You scored below the top 1% in your 12th board exam.
You are not pursuing Natural or Basic Science courses (e.g., Engineering, Medicine, Biotechnology, Agriculture, etc. are not eligible).
You are already receiving any other scholarship funded by the government (like KVPY, CBSE, UGC, etc.).
You are above the age limit of 22 years during application.
Your course is through distance or correspondence mode.

To qualify for INSPIRE Scholarship:
Score in the top 1% of your Class 12 board.
Enroll in a recognized undergraduate course in Natural or Basic Sciences.
Apply online at the INSPIRE official portal: https://online-inspire.gov.in
Upload scanned documents:
Marksheet of 12th class
Admission proof in UG course
Identity proof
Bank account details
Passport-sized photograph
Wait for DST to verify and approve your application.

Selected students receive ₹80,000 per year under the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) — ₹60,000 as scholarship and ₹20,000 for summer research project expenses.

NEET or JEE is not mandatory, but if you score high and take admission in B.Sc. courses after qualifying these exams, you may be eligible under alternate criteria.

The application usually opens in October and closes in December each year. For 2025, expected last date: 31st December 2025 (tentative — confirm on official portal).

No, engineering, medical, agriculture, and applied science courses are not eligible. Only pure/basic science UG courses are accepted.

12th mark sheet
Certificate for top 1% ranking (if applicable)
Admission proof in UG Basic Science course
Identity proof (Aadhaar/School ID)
Bank account details
Passport-sized photo