INSPIRE

INSPIRE

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Government Policy

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Scheme:

• To attract talent to the excitement and study of science at an early age
• To help the country build the required critical resource pool for strengthening and expanding the S&T system and R&D base with a long-term foresight
• It was launched on 13th December 2008

INSPIRE has three components:

• Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS):
  • It aims to attract talented youth to study science by providing INSPIRE Award of Rs 5000 to one million young learners of the age group 10-15 years, ranging from Class VI to Class X standards
  • It arranging summer camps for about 50,000 science students of Class XI with global leaders in science to experience the joy of innovations on an annual basis through INSPIRE Internship
• Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE):
  • It aims to enhance rates of attachment of talented youth to undertake higher education in science intensive programmes, by providing scholarships and mentorship.
  • The scheme offers 10,000 Scholarship every year at Rs 0.80 lakh per year for the talented youth in the age group 17-22 years, for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in natural sciences.
  • The main feature of the scheme is the mentorship support provided to every scholar.
• Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)
  • It aims to attract, attach, retain and nourish talented young scientific Human Resource for strengthening the R&D foundation and base. It has two sub-components.
  • In the first component i.e. INSPIRE Fellowship (age group of 22-27 years), it offers 1000 fellowships every year, for carrying out doctoral degree in both basic and applied sciences including engineering and medicine
  • In the second component i.e. INSPIRE Faculty Scheme, it offers assured opportunity every year for 1000 post- doctoral researchers in the age group of 27-32 years, through contractual and tenure track positions for 5 years in both basic and applied sciences area.