- 14 July, 2026
New Delhi, July 14, 2026:Thousands of India's brightest science students are facing uncertainty after the Department of Science and Technology (DST) reportedly did not open fresh admissions for the INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship for the 2026 undergraduate batch.
The scholarship, which has supported meritorious students pursuing basic sciences since 2008, has not been notified for new applicants this year. Although no formal announcement discontinuing the scheme has been issued, education experts and students say the absence of a fresh notification effectively means the scholarship is unavailable for newly admitted undergraduate students.
The development has sparked concern among students who had expected to apply for the scholarship after securing admission to science degree programmes.
Launched in 2008 under the Department of Science and Technology, INSPIRE-SHE was designed to attract academically outstanding students towards careers in basic sciences and research.
Eligible students received an annual scholarship of ₹80,000 to support their undergraduate and postgraduate studies in disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Earth Sciences.
Over the years, the programme became one of the country's most sought-after science scholarships, benefiting thousands of students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
The scholarship formed part of the broader INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) initiative, which aims to strengthen India's scientific research ecosystem by identifying and nurturing talented students.
While new admissions have reportedly not been opened, students already selected under previous batches are expected to continue receiving their scholarships, subject to meeting the required academic performance criteria.
The reported change therefore affects only fresh undergraduate entrants, leaving many high-performing students without financial assistance they had anticipated while choosing science courses.
The lack of an official clarification has added to the confusion, with students, parents and educational institutions awaiting a formal statement from the Department of Science and Technology.
The uncertainty comes after the Union Government merged several Department of Science and Technology programmes under a unified umbrella scheme called Vigyan Dhara, approved by the Union Cabinet to streamline science, technology and innovation initiatives.
Official government portals continue to list the INSPIRE Programme as one of the components of Vigyan Dhara. However, there has been no notification inviting fresh applications for the INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship for the current academic year.
Education observers say that while the programme itself has not been formally abolished, the absence of new admissions has effectively paused the scholarship for incoming undergraduate students.
The reported suspension has generated concern within the academic community, particularly among students from modest financial backgrounds who viewed the scholarship as a crucial source of support throughout their science education.
Researchers and teachers have also called for greater transparency, arguing that any major policy changes affecting national scholarship schemes should be communicated clearly and promptly.
With admissions to undergraduate science courses already underway across the country, students continue to await an official clarification on whether the INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship will be revived for the current academic session or replaced by a new funding mechanism under the Vigyan Dhara framework.
Courtesy : The Wire
Photo Courtesy : Shailendra Bhojak/PTI
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