INSPIRE SHE Scholarship 2026: ₹80,000 Annual Grant, Eligibility & Apply
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Quick answer
The INSPIRE - Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) offers ₹80,000 per year to meritorious students enrolled in basic and natural science degree programmes. Eligible candidates include students in the top 1% of their Class XII boards or top rankers in national tests like JEE, AIPMT, and KVPY. Applications must be completed online through the INSPIRE Web Portal.
At a glance
| Main benefit | ₹80,000 per annum |
| Ministry / department | Ministry Of Science And Technology |
| Level | Central Government |
| Application mode | Online |
About the scheme
The Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) is an initiative under the INSPIRE programme launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology. It aims to encourage young minds to undertake natural and basic science studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and consider research careers. Every year, 12,000 scholarships are announced for students taking up courses such as B.Sc., B.S., and Integrated M.Sc. in recognised science disciplines. The financial aid includes an annual scholarship combined with a summer research project mentorship grant, distributed for a maximum duration of five years directly through bank accounts.
Benefits
- Total scholarship value of ₹80,000 per year.
- Monthly scholarship support of ₹5,000 per month amounting to ₹60,000 annually.
- Summer mentorship grant of ₹20,000 per year for undertaking research projects under active researchers across India.
- Tenure of support up to a maximum of 5 years, starting from the 1st year of B.Sc., B.S., or Int. M.Sc./Int. M.S. until completion of the course.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) credit directly into the recipient's State Bank of India (SBI) account.
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Students with aggregate marks within the top 1% of their Class XII examination of any State or Central Education Board pursuing B.Sc., B.S., or Int. M.Sc./M.S. in Basic and Natural Sciences.
- Students securing ranks within the top 10,000 in IIT-JEE or AIPMT currently pursuing basic/natural science degree courses in India.
- Students in the top 1% of Class XII boards pursuing Integrated M.S. courses at IISERs, NISER, DAE-CBS (University of Mumbai), or Visva-Bharati.
- Students selected under Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) pursuing Bachelor or Master courses in Natural Sciences.
- National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) scholars, Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS) scholars, and International Olympiad medallists pursuing natural science degrees.
- Enrolment must be in allowed subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Statistics, Geology, Astrophysics, Astronomy, Electronics, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Anthropology, Microbiology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, or Oceanic Sciences.
Who cannot apply
- Courses in Engineering, Medicine, Military Science, Defence Studies, Agriculture, Psychology, and Seed Technology.
- Courses in Home Science, Geography, Economics, Physical Education, and Education (including B.Sc.-B.Ed. dual degree programmes).
- Professional courses including Biotechnology, Computer Science, Computer Applications, Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, and Information Technology.
- Degrees pursued through distance education mode or at Open Universities.
Documents required
- Class XII mark sheet (mandatory)
- Class X mark sheet or certificate as proof of date of birth (mandatory)
- Endorsement Certificate in the prescribed format signed by the Principal of the College, Director of the Institute, or Registrar of the University (mandatory)
- Front page of the student's State Bank of India (SBI) passbook showing account number and name
- Eligibility Note or Advisory Note issued by the State or Central Board (if available)
- B.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. Performance Report (for ongoing verification/continuation)
- B.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. semester or annual mark sheets
How to apply
- 1Visit the official INSPIRE Web Portal (online-inspire.gov.in) and log in with your registered email ID and password.
- 2Navigate to your dashboard and click on the 'Scholarship' link.
- 3Access the 'Related Link' icon, view the Provisional Offer Letter, and read all instructions thoroughly.
- 4Enter your State Bank of India (SBI) account details and upload a scanned image of the front page of your SBI passbook.
- 5Click the submit button to save your bank details successfully.
- 6Open the 'Documents for BSc/MSc' section through the related links menu.
- 7Upload the required documents, including your annual mark sheets and the official Performance Report, and submit the form.
- 8Log out of the portal and wait for departmental approval (do not send hard copies by post).
Frequently asked questions
What is the total scholarship amount given under INSPIRE-SHE?+
The scholarship is valued at ₹80,000 per year, which consists of ₹60,000 as annual scholarship (₹5,000 per month) and ₹20,000 as a summertime mentorship grant.
What is the maximum duration of the scholarship?+
Selected candidates are supported for a maximum period of five years, starting from the first year of B.Sc., B.S., Int. M.Sc., or Int. M.S., or until course completion, whichever is earlier.
Which bank account is required to receive the funds?+
The scholarship is transferred directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the student's individual State Bank of India (SBI) bank account.
Are students studying Engineering or Computer Science eligible?+
No, courses such as Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Information Technology, and other professional courses are strictly not supported.
What is required to continue receiving the scholarship each year?+
Continuation depends on good academic performance in university examinations and the recommendation of the Head of the Institution submitted via the annual Performance Report.
Do I need to send physical copies of my documents by post?+
No, applicants must submit all documents online through the INSPIRE Web Portal and must not send any papers by post.
NaukriZila is not a government website. Apply only on the official portal; never pay anyone to apply for a government scheme. Source: myScheme (Government of India)