INSPIRE-FF

Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship

6.4/10

The "INSPIRE FACULTY FELLOWSHIP" component provides opportunities to 100 persons every year with Ph.D. qualifications in the age group of 27-32 years for 5 years to carry out research in both basic and applied science areas including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences.

Central Cash

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Science And Technology

Nodal department: Department Of Science & Technology

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

Scheme open date: 2008-12-13

Categories: Science, IT & Communications, Education & Learning

Sub-categories: Universities and higher education, Education and training grants, fellowship, stipend

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Research, Fellowship, Faculty, Science, PhD

Details

The "INSPIRE FACULTY FELLOWSHIP" component provides opportunities to 100 persons every year with Ph.D. qualifications in the age group of 27-32 years for 5 years to carry out research in both basic and applied science areas including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences for establishing themselves as independent researchers. It grants an attractive fellowship for a duration of 5 years. The objective of the scheme is to encourage young researchers to continue research in areas of S&T, Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Sciences.
Purpose

  1. To provide attractive opportunities for young achievers for developing independent scientific profiles and launch them toward fulfilling long-term careers.
  2. To augment high-quality scientific manpower in scientific and educational institutions, especially the Central and State universities.
  3. While vertical migration from the other INSPIRE components would be encouraged, the faculty fellowship component also provides the opportunity to meritorious candidates for lateral entry into INSPIRE scheme.
  4. INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides an opportunity to post-doctoral fellows for carrying out independent research however does not guarantee a regular position after 5 years.

Benefits

  • Amount 1. Each selected INSPIRE Faculty Fellow will be eligible to receive a consolidated amount of ₹1 25 000/- per month as a fellowship with an annual increment of ₹2 000/-. 1. In addition a Research Grant of ₹7 00 000 every year for 5 years will also be provided to each successful candidate including the carry-forward amount if any from the previous year. 1. The consolidated amount of ₹1 25 000/- per month is an all-inclusive fellowship and taxable as per the Indian IT Act. Duration 1. The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship is for a maximum period of 5 (five) years

Amount

  1. Each selected INSPIRE Faculty Fellow will be eligible to receive a consolidated amount of ₹1,25,000/- per month as a fellowship with an annual increment of ₹2,000/-.
  2. In addition, a Research Grant of ₹7,00,000 every year for 5 years will also be provided to each successful candidate including the carry-forward amount, if any, from the previous year.
  3. The consolidated amount of ₹1,25,000/- per month is an all-inclusive fellowship and taxable as per the Indian IT Act.

Duration

  1. The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship is for a maximum period of 5 (five) years.

Eligibility

Essential

  1. Indian citizens and People of Indian origin with PIO status having Ph.D. degrees (in science, mathematics, engineering, pharmacy, medicine, and agriculture-related subjects) from any recognized university in the world.
  2. Candidates should possess a minimum of 60% (or equivalent CGPA) marks throughout their academic profile starting from the Senior Secondary Examination (Class 12 onwards).
  3. Those that have submitted their Ph.D. theses and are awaiting the award of their degree shall also be eligible. However, selection for the Fellowship will be confirmed only after the Ph.D. degree is awarded.
  4. The upper age limit as of 1st January of the respective year of advertisement, is 32 years for General Category. However, for SC, ST, and Women candidates, the upper age limit will be 37 years. For persons with benchmark disabilities (Divyangjan with not less than 40 percent of a specified disability), the upper age limit will be 42 years.
  5. Publication(s) in highly reputed journals demonstrating the outstanding research potential of the candidate.
  6. Candidates who are employed in regular/contractual positions within India may also apply for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship for improvement and enhancement in their career prospects but, upon selection, the candidates will need to resign (no lien or deputation or any type of leave would be accepted) from the current job and organization before taking up the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship.
  7. Candidates, who get selected for regular positions in any institute/university after submission of the IFF application, would be entitled to receive the Research Grant only as INSPIRE Faculty Fellows.

Desirable

  1. Candidates who are within the top 1% in Class 12 examination, IIT-JEE rank holders, 1st rank holders either in graduation or post-graduation level university examinations.

Exclusions

No Fellow shall avail of two fellowships concurrently during the tenure of this Fellowship period.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.4
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 5.0/10 Moderate
Rural usefulness 4.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 5.0/10 Moderate
Financial impact 9.0/10 Good
Literacy barrier 7.0/10 Challenging
Women inclusivity 8.0/10 Good
Awareness 7.5/10 Good
Implementation reliability 7.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility5.0
  • Financial impact9.0
  • Rural utility4.0
  • Awareness7.5
  • Simplicity5.0
  • Inclusivity8.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides significant opportunities for young researchers in India, particularly those with Ph.D. qualifications.

Key challenges addressed

  • Encourages young researchers to pursue independent research careers
  • Augments scientific manpower in educational institutions

Most beneficial for

  • Young researchers
  • Ph.D. holders
  • Women candidates

Likely challenges

  • High competition for limited fellowships
  • Strict eligibility criteria

Practical insights for citizens

Practical for eligible candidates but may be challenging for those in remote areas

Rural challenges

  • Limited access to high-quality research facilities
  • Potential lack of awareness in rural areas

Digital challenges

  • High digital dependency may exclude non-tech-savvy applicants

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Competition and selection process may delay benefits

Awareness challenges

  • Limited outreach in rural areas

Application analysis

Application mode
Online portal
Documents burden
Minimal, primarily online application
Verification complexity
Moderate, involves expert committee evaluation
Office dependency
Low, primarily online process
DBT dependency
No direct benefit transfer involved
CSC support
Limited, primarily online application
Estimated citizen effort
Moderate effort required for application and documentation

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach Moderate
  • Gender reach High
  • Target income group Middle to high-income individuals
  • Occupation reach Academics and researchers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Cash
Benefit frequency
Monthly fellowship with annual research grant
Benefit practicality
High, as it provides substantial financial support for research
Financial meaningfulness
Very meaningful due to significant monthly and annual amounts
Long-term impact
Encourages sustained research careers and contributes to scientific advancement

Plain-language guidance

The INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship offers financial support for young researchers with Ph.D. degrees to pursue independent research. It is available to Indian citizens and provides a monthly stipend along with a research grant.

Who should apply
Young researchers with a Ph.D. in relevant fields looking to establish their research careers.
Who may struggle
Candidates from rural areas with limited internet access or those unfamiliar with online applications.
Best application route
Apply directly through the online portal at https://online-inspire.gov.in.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

Mode of Application

  1. Eligible candidates need to submit applications ONLINE through the portal of INSPIRE program only. No other mode of submission of the application is permitted.
  2. To apply ONLINE, please visit the website and follow the process described therein. After the successful submission of the application online, the candidate may obtain a printout of the application and keep it for his/her personal reference.

Method of Selection

  1. The Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, in coordination with DST, is implementing this INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship Scheme up to the stage of recommendation of candidates for INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship.
  2. A three-tier selection process, viz. evaluation by discipline-based Expert Committees, followed by the recommendations of the Apex Level Committee and INSPIRE Faculty Award Council. Based on the recommendations of these Committees, DST makes the final selection.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

How Many Candidates Are Awarded The Fellowship Every Year?

Every year, 100 candidates are awarded the fellowship.

What Is The Duration Of The Fellowship?

The duration of the fellowship is 5 years.

Which Are The Eligible Research Domains For The Fellowship?

Research in both basic and applied science areas including engineering, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary sciences.

What Are The Objectives Of This Fellowship?

The objective of the scheme is to encourage young researchers to continue research in areas of S&T, Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Sciences.

What Additional Documents Are Required By The Applicants Who Are Not INSPIRE Scholars?

First Rank Certificate is required in the case of applicants who are not INSPIRE Scholars.

What Is The Full Form Of NTRP?

The full-form of NTRP is "Non-Tax Receipt Portal".

Does This Fellowship Provide Lateral Entry Options?

While vertical migration from the other INSPIRE components would be encouraged, the faculty fellowship component also provides the opportunity to meritorious candidates for lateral entry into INSPIRE scheme.

What Documents Are Required To Be Submitted Upon Selection For The Fellowship?

The following documents are required to be submitted upon selection for the fellowship - Duly signed "Undertaking from INSPIRE Faculty Fellow" Undertaking duly signed by both the competent authority from the chosen Host institution and the INSPIRE Faculty Fellow. Every Faculty Fellow needs to provide budget estimates with year-wise detailed break-up under various Heads such as manpower cost, consumables including chemicals, travel, contingency, overhead costs, etc. and non-recurring cost such as equipment for utilization of the Research Grant to the DST-INSPIRE Programme Division along with joining documents.

Does This Fellowship Offers A Regular/Permanent Position?

INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship provides an opportunity to post-doctoral fellows for carrying out independent research however does not guarantee a regular position after 5 years.

What Additional Documents Are Required To Be Submitted By The Fellow On The Case Of Transfer Or Change Of Host Institution?

The Faculty Fellow needs to inform the DST-INSPIRE Programme Division immediately with the following documents to effect the change and smooth facilitation of the transfer of funds etc: Appointment Letter of permanent employment or justification for a change of Host Institution. NOC from the present Host Institute and Acceptance Letter from the new Host Institute. Joining Letter from the new Host Institute due to transfer or permanent employment (either the same or a different Host Institution), Fresh signed copy of the Undertaking (not required in case of permanent employment in the same Host Institution), Up-to-date financial documents from the present Host Institute (also in case of permanent employment in the same Host Institute).

How Do I Submit The Online Application?

To apply ONLINE, please visit the website: https://online-inspire.gov.in and follow the process described therein. After the successful submission of the application online, the candidate may obtain a printout of the application and keep it for his/her personal reference.

References

Guidelines
https://online-inspire.gov.in/Content/GuideLine/FacultyFellowshipGuidelines.pdf
Website
https://dst.gov.in/inspire-scheme-innovation-science-pursuit-inspired-research
Call For Applications (2023)
https://online-inspire.gov.in/Account/OpenDocument?documentId=9ryqi2f8nTXWOAP%2BtQrybw%3D%3D
User Manual Of The Registration And Application Process
https://www.online-inspire.gov.in/readwritedata/template/FacultyTemplate/FacultyScheme_Guidelines.pdf
Scheme Amendment
https://insaindia.res.in/scroll_news_pdf/INSPIRE-Faculty-Fellowship2025.pdf

Apply

Apply now

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Eligibility for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Benefits under Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Applications for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship.
Is Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship a central government scheme?
Yes, Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can small and marginal farmers apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Eligible small and marginal farmers may apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship subject to land ownership records, income eligibility, and agricultural beneficiary criteria.
Does Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship provide subsidy support for farmers?
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship may provide agricultural subsidies, financial assistance, crop support, irrigation benefits, insurance coverage, or farming-related welfare assistance depending on the scheme structure.
Can students apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Are there deadlines for applying to Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship in All India?
Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Innovation In Science Pursuit For Inspired Research (INSPIRE) - Faculty Fellowship applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.