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INSPIRE Scholarship Scholarships For Higher Education - SHE

"Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)" is an innovative program sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to Science. The basic objective of INSPIRE is to communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and thus build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and R&D base.

A striking feature of the program is that it does not believe in conducting competitive exams for identification of talent at any level. It believes in and relies on the efficacy of the existing educational structure for identification of talent.

Call for Applications:

Applications are invited from eligible candidates for `Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE)' component of INSPIRE. Total of 10,000 scholarships are available annually under SHE starting April 2008. The scholarships are limited only to the candidates studying courses in natural/basic sciences (B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), integrated M.Sc.) in any one of the recognized institutions in India. Eligibility criterion for the scholarships are a) performance in board examinations within the cutoff threshold (of top 1%) for each state or central board examination at the class X and class XII level and/or b) performance in any of the specified competitive examinations within stipulated cut off ranks. The eligible applicant must be already enrolled into degree level education in natural/basic sciences in any of the recognized institutions in India.

Criteria for Eligibility for SHE:

1. Based on Performance in Board Examinations: The candidates should have obtained aggregate marks in the top 1% in the board examination at both class X and XII levels. For example, the candidates applying for INSPIRE Scholarship 2008 should have secured marks within the top 1% in class X in the year 2006 and class XII in 2008 in the respective board examinations and should have joined a degree course leading to B.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons) or integrated M.Sc. in natural/basic sciences in any institution in India. Cut-off marks for various board examinations conducted in the years 2006 and 2007 for class X and corresponding year of 2008 and 2009 for class XII are listed in Table 1. The cut-off marks of various Board Examinations conducted in the years 2008 for Class X and 2010 for Class XII are being compiled and shall be up-loaded in Website in due course. Candidate securing top 1% marks only in class XII board examination can also submit the application form.
2. Based on Performance in Competitive Examinations (specified in Table 2).: Performance within the top 10,000 ranks in Joint Entrance Examination of IIT, AIEEE (Engineering) and CBSEmedical and joining degree level courses in natural/basic sciences in any recognized Indian institution. The candidate may apply with a valid document of these examinations. The scheme in its current format does not include courses in engineering, medicine, technology and other professional courses.
3. Based on Performance in Competitive Examinations (specified in Table 3): Clearance of competitive examinations conducted by institutions listed in Table 3 and all candidates securing admissions and joining integrated M.Sc/ MS courses in natural/basic sciences conduced by Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), in Indian Institutes of Technology, Department of Atomic Energy � Centre for Basic Science (DAE-CBS) and University from the academic years 2008-09, 2009-10 ad 2010- 11 are eligible. Institutional coverage is being done for this category. Students in this category need not to apply.

Value and Type of Support: Eligible candidates will receive annually scholarship @ total value Rs.80,000 per candidate. The cash value payable to the SHE scholarship holder is Rs.60,000 per annum. All the SHE scholars are undertake summer time attachment to an active researcher in recognized research centers in the country. A summer time attachment fee of Rs.20,000 will be paid to the mentoring institution for undertaking summer time project.

Duration of the Support: Selected candidates will be supported for a maximum period of five years starting 1st year course in B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons) and integrated course leading to M.S. or M.Sc. or the completion of the course, which ever is earlier. Continuation of the scholarship for once selected candidates is based on satisfactory performance of the examinations conducted and certified by the institution imparting education.

Format for Application: All interested and eligible candidates (as per Table 1 for Board examination based eligibility or as per Table 2 or Table 3 for competitive examination based eligibility) must apply in the prescribed format written preferable in English & Hindi only along with attested copy of i) Mark sheets of Class X and Class XII and ii) Endorsement Certificate from Principal of the College/ Director or Registrar of the Institute or University where the applicant is presently enrolled. Candidate may please download this Advertisement and Application Format which is available at the website: www. inspire-dst.gov.in and submit the duly filled-in application with all necessary documents. Applications should be sent by Ordinary Post only within one month from the date of this advertisement in Newspaper and shall be addressed to the Director, National Institute of Science, Technology & Development Studies (NISTADS), Dr K S Krishnan Marg , New Delhi - 110012. The envelope should mention on top "Application for INSPIRE Scholarship � 2008, 2009 and 2010" program. For online submission of application, kindly also visit the Website: www.inspire-dst.gov.in. The online applicants should also submit a hardcopy of the applications with all attested documents.