The Ministry of Earth Sciences provided a detailed parliamentary response regarding the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme's performance over the last five years (2021-22 to 2025-26). The program systematically nurtures scientific talent through four major components with specific age targeting and financial benefits.
INSPIRE MANAK promotes innovation among students aged 10-17 years (Classes VI-XII) by encouraging original ideas and innovations. INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) supports meritorious students aged 17-22 years pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in natural and basic sciences, awarding 12,000 scholarships annually valued at ₹80,000 per year each.
INSPIRE Fellowship supports outstanding graduates and scholars pursuing full-time Ph.D. programs with financial support up to five years, including a fellowship of ₹37,000 per month as Junior Research Fellow (JRF), ₹42,000 per month as Senior Research Fellow (SRF), admissible House Rent Allowance (HRA), and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000. INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers aged 27-32 years (with age relaxations for reserved categories) through a five-year fellowship providing ₹1,25,000 per month, an annual increment of ₹2,000, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh over the fellowship period.
The component-wise beneficiary data shows: INSPIRE-MANAK supported 52,720 (2021-22), 43,381 (2022-23), 46,926 (2023-24), 50,009 (2024-25), and 49,805 (2025-26) students; INSPIRE-SHE supported 18,039 (2021-22), 19,771 (2022-23), 18,236 (2023-24), 20,354 (2024-25), and 24,276 (2025-26) students; INSPIRE Fellowship supported 2,768 (2021-22), 2,872 (2022-23), 2,811 (2023-24), 2,448 (2024-25), and 3,364 (2025-26) researchers; and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship supported 474 (2021-22), 338 (2022-23), 299 (2023-24), 225 (2024-25), and 477 (2025-26) researchers.
The government implemented targeted interventions to expand outreach with special focus on rural, remote and aspirational districts, including deep dissemination through State Education Departments, District Education Officers, schools and digital platforms; organization of awareness campaigns, orientation programmes, webinars, and capacity-building workshops for teachers; and conduct of District, State, and National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (DLEPCs, SLEPCs, and NLEPCs). Mentorship programmes were organized in collaboration with premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IISERs, and other leading scientific organizations to provide guidance on prototype development and scientific research.
These efforts resulted in inclusive participation across various regions and societal sections, with growing numbers of students from rural and remote districts benefiting through innovation grants, mentoring support, and national platform opportunities. The program has strengthened scientific temper, fostered grassroots innovation, expanded equitable access to science education, and broadened the pipeline of young scientific talent nationwide.