Over the last five years, the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme of the department of science and technology has systematically nurtured scientific talent at different stages of the academic and research pipeline through its four major components. INSPIRE MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) promotes innovation and scientific creativity among students aged 10-17 years (Classes VI-XII) by encouraging them to develop and showcase 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 by awarding 12,000 scholarships annually, each valued at ₹80,000 per year. INSPIRE Fellowship encourages outstanding graduates and INSPIRE scholars to pursue research through full-time Ph.D. programme(s) by providing 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 outstanding postdoctoral researchers, generally in the 27-32 years age group (with applicable age relaxations for reserved categories), through a five-year fellowship. Fellows receive ₹1,25,000 per month, an annual increment of ₹2,000, and a research grant of ₹35 lakh over the fellowship period.

The Government has undertaken a series of targeted interventions to significantly expand the reach and inclusivity of INSPIRE Programme, with a special focus on rural, remote, and aspirational districts across the country including Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency in Odisha and in the state of Rajasthan. These efforts include extensively deep dissemination of information 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 school authorities to improve the quality and reach of nominations. In addition, District, State, and National Level Exhibitions and Project Competitions (DLEPCs, SLEPCs, and NLEPCs) are hosted to identify, recognize and nurture innovative ideas among school students. To further strengthen the innovation ecosystem, mentorship programmes have been organized in collaboration with premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, IISERs, and other leading scientific organizations, providing selected students with guidance on   prototype   development, innovation, and   scientific research. These sustained efforts have a deep-reaching impact on the Society through participation in the INSPIRE programmes percolating across the country.

A growing number of students from rural and remote districts have benefited through innovation grants, mentoring support, and opportunities to showcase their scientific talent on national platforms. Collectively, these interventions have strengthened the scientific temper, the culture of inquiry, fostered grassroots innovation, expanded equitable access to science education, scholarly support, and research fellowships and strengthened young scientific talent represented from every region of the country.

The Government has been committed to promotion of the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme to encourage meritorious students to pursue higher education and research in sciences. The component-wise progress made during the last five years, including the number of students and young researchers supported under each component is provided below:

 

Program/Financial Year	2021- 22	2022- 23	2023- 24	2024- 25	2025- 26
INSPIRE-MANAK	52720	43381	46926	50009	49805
INSPIRE-SHE	18039	19771	18236	20354	24276
INSPIRE Fellowship	2768	2872	2811	2448	3364
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship	474	338	299	225	477

 

The year-wise number of beneficiaries from Odisha under the various components of the INSPIRE Scheme during the last five years is given below:

 

Program/Financial Year	2021- 22	2022- 23	2023- 24	2024- 25	2025- 26
INSPIRE-MANAK	3659	3067	3823	3409	3755
INSPIRE-SHE	28	37	57	46	46
INSPIRE Fellowship	11	56	28	06	29
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship	2	5	3	2	2

 

The year-wise number of beneficiaries from the Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha under INSPIRE MANAK component of INSPIRE Scheme during the last five years is given below:

 

Program/Financial Year	2021- 22	2022- 23	2023- 24	2024- 25	2025- 26
INSPIRE-MANAK	56	106	149	116	72

The total number of beneficiaries under the INSPIRE Programme from the State of Rajasthan is given below:

Program/Financial Year	2021- 22	2022- 23	2023- 24	2024- 25	2025- 26
INSPIRE-MANAK	10019	5993	6830	6599	5720
INSPIRE-SHE	2464	936	1992	2155	1541
INSPIRE Fellowship	2	20	14	1	23
INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship	0	5	4	0	4

 

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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NKR/FT

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