1. Brief Description: The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) is a program initiated by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to encourage and support students in pursuing higher education in science-related fields. The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious students to pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Natural and Basic Sciences.

2. Detailed Eligibility Criteria: The following are the eligibility criteria for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE):

– The applicant must be an Indian national and have completed their 10+2 examination with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) or Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB) or Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology (PCMB).

– The applicant must have secured admission to a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s degree course in Natural and Basic Sciences at any recognized Indian university or institute.

– The applicant must not be availing any other scholarship or financial assistance.

3. Benefits: The scholarship offers the following benefits:

– A scholarship amount of INR 80,000 per annum to the selected candidates for pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate courses in Natural and Basic Sciences.

– An additional amount of INR 20,000 per annum for carrying out summer research projects.

– Mentorship and guidance from experts in the field of science and technology.

– Opportunities to participate in national and international conferences and seminars.

4. Important Information: The selection process for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) involves a written test and an interview. The written test is conducted in two stages – the first stage is conducted at the state or UT level, and the second stage is conducted at the national level. The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in both the stages of the written test and the interview.

5. How to Apply: Interested candidates can apply for the scholarship online on the INSPIRE Scholarship website. The application process typically opens in September and closes in November each year. The exact dates are announced on the website.

6. Prerequisites and Documents: To apply for the scholarship, candidates need to have secured admission to a full-time Bachelor’s or Master’s degree course in Natural and Basic Sciences at any recognized Indian university or institute. They also need to provide their 10+2 mark sheet, admission letter to the course, and other relevant documents during the application process.