Sarkari Yojana
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) – Fellowship
About Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) – Fellowship
INSPIRE Fellowship, a component of the INSPIRE scheme run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, works to strengthen the country’s Science and Technology base. It focuses on drawing students toward doctoral study in basic and applied sciences — including engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary science, and pharmacy — after they finish a master’s in science/engineering or a bachelor’s/master’s in Medicine.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Science And Technology
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Fellowship, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
Rank-1 holders at any recognized University or academic…
Rank-1 holders at any recognized University or academic institution (excluding Autonomous Colleges) in India, at the Post-Graduate (PG) level, in Basic/Applied Sciences including Engineering, Pharmacy, Agricultural Sciences, and Veterinary Sciences.
Rank-1 holders at the Graduate/Post-graduate level examination in…
Rank-1 holders at the Graduate/Post-graduate level examination in Medicine, conducted by a University/Institution in India.
The Rank-1 position must come from a university…
The Rank-1 position must come from a university course/programme in basic/applied science with a batch of at least 07 students and an overall minimum of 70% marks (or equivalent CGPA) for the full course/programme. OR
INSPIRE Scholars who scored at least 70% marks…
INSPIRE Scholars who scored at least 70% marks (or equivalent CGPA) overall in M.Sc./integrated M.S./M.Sc. Note 1: Meeting the eligibility criteria alone does not guarantee a final fellowship offer. Note 2: The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) makes the final recommendation for the INSPIRE Fellowship, weighing academic merit, the research proposal, the supervisor's research record, the host institution, and other factors competitively. Note 3: The Fellowship applies only to full-time Ph.D. programmes at a recognized University/Institution/R&D Laboratory within the country. Post-Selection Eligibility Criteria for Continuation of the Fellowship
Keep DST updated on research progress throughout the…
Keep DST updated on research progress throughout the fellowship tenure.
The INSPIRE Fellow must not take on any…
The INSPIRE Fellow must not take on any paid or unpaid assignment unrelated to the approved research programme, though assisting the host institute with academic activities under Ph.D. programme guidelines is allowed, provided it does not slow the fellow's research.
Once a Fellow joins, the research work must…
Once a Fellow joins, the research work must be completed within the fellowship's 5-year tenure to meet the approved research objectives.
Every publication, patent, or Ph.D
Every publication, patent, or Ph.D. thesis produced must acknowledge DST's support.
A soft copy of the Ph.D
A soft copy of the Ph.D. thesis, published papers, and any patent details must be sent via speed post on a USB storage device to DST's INSPIRE Programme Division.
DST must be informed of any disciplinary action…
DST must be informed of any disciplinary action the University takes against an INSPIRE Fellow.
Benefits Provided
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Fellowship provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
Duration
Duration
The fellowship runs for a maximum of five…
The fellowship runs for a maximum of five years from the INSPIRE Fellowship "Effective Date," or until the Ph.D. programme is completed (up to a successful Ph.D. viva-voce), whichever comes first. HRA
Fellows also receive HRA per GoI norms, based…
Fellows also receive HRA per GoI norms, based on where the Host Institute is located. Contingency Expenditure
Contingency grant spending follows the host institution's norms,…
Contingency grant spending follows the host institution's norms, capped at ₹20,000/annum. Any unspent balance at year-end carries forward to the next year, up to a ceiling of ₹20,000. Internship
Fellows may take a short-term Research Internship at…
Fellows may take a short-term Research Internship at any national or international Laboratory/University/Institute, for up to 18 months total, in one or several stints across the 5-year fellowship. Upgradation of Fellowship from JRF to SRF
Upgrading from Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to Senior…
Upgrading from Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) to Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) is normally considered after two (2) years in the INSPIRE Fellowship, though it can happen after just one year as JRF if the Fellow has had at least one research paper accepted (as 1st Author) in an international peer-reviewed journal, based on Ph.D. work at the Host Institute. Mode and Cycle of Payment
The fellowship grant moves via PFMS to the…
The fellowship grant moves via PFMS to the student's host institute's ZBSA Bank Account in the Bank of Maharashtra, under the CNA (Central Nodal Agency) Model. The host institute then pays the monthly fellowship into students' bank accounts as per its own norms.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
One passport-size photo
One passport-size photo
The certificate for Class X
The certificate for Class X
Mark sheets supporting the educational qualifications listed (12th…
Mark sheets supporting the educational qualifications listed (12th Std., UG & PG Program)
First Rank Certificate, for applicants who are not…
First Rank Certificate, for applicants who are not INSPIRE Scholars
Letter of appointment, if the applicant is employed…
Letter of appointment, if the applicant is employed If already enrolled in Ph.D.
The supervisor's curriculum vitae
The supervisor's curriculum vitae
The Ph.D
The Ph.D. Admission Letter through which the Host Institute administration confirmed admission
Receipt of fee payment
Receipt of fee payment
The Endorsement Letter
The Endorsement Letter
A detailed write-up of the proposed research If…
A detailed write-up of the proposed research If not enrolled in a Ph.D.
Curriculum vitae of each of the three supervisors
Curriculum vitae of each of the three supervisors. For Change of Host Institution
NOCs (No Objection Certificates) issued by the respective…
NOCs (No Objection Certificates) issued by the respective Host Institutes and Research Supervisors.
A detailed justification for changing/transferring the Host Institute…
A detailed justification for changing/transferring the Host Institute where the Fellowship is implemented.
The Ph.D
The Ph.D. research area along with a current Technical Progress Report.
The CV of the Research Supervisor at the…
The CV of the Research Supervisor at the new Host Institute.
A current Financial Statement of Expenditure from the…
A current Financial Statement of Expenditure from the original Host Institute (where the fellowship grant was released to the INSPIRE Fellow's initial host Institute). After availing of the Research Internship
A report on the internship
A report on the internship.
The Joining Report
The Joining Report. For Fellowship release in the subsequent years
Statement of Expenditure for each financial year
Statement of Expenditure for each financial year
A Utilization Certificate Completion of Fellowship Tenure or…
A Utilization Certificate Completion of Fellowship Tenure or Award of Ph.D. Degree
Copy of the certificate awarding the Ph.D
Copy of the certificate awarding the Ph.D. degree
A report on completion or discontinuation of the…
A report on completion or discontinuation of the Ph.D.
Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization certificate (UC)…
Statement of Expenditure (SE) and Utilization certificate (UC) covering the entire fellowship duration
Receipt for any unspent balance (unspent balance and…
Receipt for any unspent balance (unspent balance and other earnings on the released grant, if any, are to be remitted to the Consolidated Fund of India through the Non-Tax Receipt Portal (NTRP), i.e., www.bharatkosh.gov.in) NOTE: A soft copy of the Ph.D. thesis, published research papers and any patent details must be sent on a USB storage device by speed post to the INSPIRE Programme Division of DST.
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Fellowship through the online application process outlined below.
Call for INSPIRE Fellowship Applications The call for INSPIRE Fellowship applications goes out in the 3rd/4th quarter of each financial year. Eligible students apply through the INSPIRE Web-portal: https://www.online-inspire.gov.in Applications can be submitted online only in response to this call. To apply online, visit https://www.online-inspire.gov.in and follow these steps:
Application Portal: Open Application Portal ↗
Log in to the portal using your username…
Log in to the portal using your username (registered Email ID) and password.
On the screen that appears, click the 'Fellowship'…
On the screen that appears, click the 'Fellowship' link.
After clicking 'Fellowship,' click the 'Apply for Fellowship'…
After clicking 'Fellowship,' click the 'Apply for Fellowship' button.
Using the 'EDIT' button, complete the mandatory fields…
Using the 'EDIT' button, complete the mandatory fields under: Personal Particulars, Contact Details, Educational Qualification (from class 12th standard onwards), Eligibility Criteria, Enrolment in Ph.D., Current Employment details.
Check the Declaration Button
Check the Declaration Button. Enter Place, Date, and Verification Code (CAPTCHA).
Click 'Submit.' A confirmation page will appear once…
Click 'Submit.' A confirmation page will appear once submitted successfully, along with a reference number for future communication. Note 1: SAVE your entered details before moving to the next section. Note 2: Fields marked * are mandatory. IMPORTANT: Your application cannot be edited or modified after you click SUBMIT, so double-check all details beforehand. Use the 'PRINT PREVIEW' button to review what you have entered. Check Application Status 1. Application status can be checked by entering the Application Reference Number on the portal. 2. All selected applicants are informed via Email notification at their registered Email ID. Online Selection Process 1. Selection runs in two tiers — an Internal Committee screens eligible applications, followed by final selection through an Expert Committee. The whole process is expected to wrap up within 6 months of the application deadline. 2. Results (provisional/final offer/rejection) are communicated individually only through the online web portal (www.online-inspire.gov.in), where they are also uploaded to each applicant's INSPIRE account.
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
1. Students who are 1st Rank Holders in College including Autonomous College Examination, and
1. Students who have obtained degree(s) through Distance Education Mode, and
1. Students who are 1st Rank Holder in any specialization at M.Sc. 2nd year/last year.
1. Students who are availing multiple (more than one) fellowships concurrently from different sources.
> **Termination or Discontinuation of INSPIRE Fellowship**
1. Non-acceptance of Final Offer within 30 days from the date of issue of Final Offer.
1. Upon successful completion of Ph.D. viva-voce or 5 years of INSPIRE Fellowship tenure, whichever is earlier;
1. Resignation from the Fellowship before awarding a Ph.D. degree based on the Research Supervisor’s recommendation and upon acceptance of resignation by DST as per the terms and conditions detailed in point 7 above.
1. Change of host institution without prior approval of DST.
1. In case, INSPIRE Fellow is found ineligible at any stage including submission of incorrect information / document(s) / application, any unintentional computer error or printer’s devil, etc.
1. In case of termination of fellowship on the unethical ground(s) INSPIRE Fellow is liable to refund the completely released INSPIRE Fellowship grant along with interest.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.