ABVP raises delay in INSPIRE SHE scholarship 2025-26 notification, Jitendra Singh assures action

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on July 20 submitted a memorandum to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, raising concerns over the delay in the notification for the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (INSPIRE SHE) scheme as well as the disbursal of pending scholarship and fellowship funds.

The student organisation urged the government to immediately release the INSPIRE SHE notification for the 2025-26 academic year to ensure timely disbursal of pending scholarship and fellowship installments. It also urged government to introduce a fixed timeline for future notifications and fund releases, and establish an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

"Traditionally, the notification for the scheme is released during September-October each year, enabling eligible students to receive timely financial support for higher education and research. However, the notification for the academic year 2025-26 has not yet been released," the statement said.

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The INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (INSPIRE SHE), administered by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is one of the Government of India's flagship initiatives to encourage meritorious students to pursue higher education in science and natural sciences.

This is not the first time the delay in notification has been flagged. Students from institutions including IISERs, IISc Bengaluru and IACS Kolkata earlier said that had received no clarity regarding the scholarship. Some were even informed the scholarship may not be awarded this year. The scholarship, one of the country's largest merit-based science scholarships, supports undergraduate students pursuing basic sciences and provides financial assistance for education and research.

DST clarifies delay

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has clarified that the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (INSPIRE-SHE) has not been discontinued but is being redesigned, leading to a delay in the 2025 application notification. The clarification follows reports that raised concerns after no fresh applications were invited this year. According to reports, the scheme is under review as part of a broader restructuring of scholarship programmes under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). INSPIRE-SHE annually supports around 17,000 undergraduate science students with scholarships worth Rs 80,000. However, the DST has not announced when the next notification will be released.

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Research activities disrupted

The ABVP also alleged that delay in releasing scholarship and fellowship amounts have disrupted research activities, laboratory work and other academic requirements, affecting students and research scholars across the country.

ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said that schemes such as INSPIRE SHE are crucial for nurturing scientific talent and supporting the country's vision of a developed India.

"However, the continued delay in issuing the notification and disbursing scholarship and fellowship amounts since the last academic year has adversely affected thousands of students. The disruption of research activities is also impacting the quality of scientific research," Solanki said.

The organisation made the following demands:

• Immediate release of the INSPIRE SHE notification
• Prompt disbursal of pending scholarship and fellowship funds
• A transparent and time-bound implementation framework
• An effective grievance redressal mechanism

According to the ABVP, Jitendra Singh assured the delegation that the notification for the scheme and the release of pending scholarships and fellowships would be taken up at the earliest.

(With PTI inputs)