Department of Science & Technology (DST) has taken several pioneering initiatives for attracting meritorious students to study basic and natural sciences at the college and university level and to pursue research careers in both basic and applied science areas, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary sciences and pharmacy etc. through various components under Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE).

INSPIRE offers an opportunity for pursuing Doctoral Research at any recognized University or Institute in India through Fellowships at the same level as National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates. The INSPIRE Fellowship component of the INSPIRE Program is focused on attracting students to pursue a regular doctoral degree in basic and applied sciences, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary, pharmacy etc., after either Master’s / Bachelor’s degree (minimum 4 years or 8 semesters) in Science/​Applied Science/​Engineering/​Medicine.

Applications are invited for the year 2025, from eligible candidates preferably in the age group of 22 – 27 years for Fellowship, under the INSPIRE Fellowship component of the INSPIRE scheme of DST through the web portal https://​www​.online​-inspire​.gov…

Candidates who are Indian citizens and have acquired their eligibility for the INSPIRE Fellowship during the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 (till closing date of the call) are eligible to apply.

The students who are already enjoying Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) or a higher position in any project or otherwise are not eligible to apply for this. Merely having the eligibility does not guarantee the offer of the INSPIRE Fellowship. Finally, selected students for the INSPIRE Fellowship against the previous advertisement need not apply again.

Interested and eligible students must apply and submit their application with all essential documents through the online mode only. Applications are to be submitted online on the INSPIRE web-portal https://​www​.online​-inspire​.gov…. Those interested in submitting application have to register at this portal and submit the application online.

Please read the guidelines available on the INSPIRE web-portal carefully before submitting the application. It is also advised to download related guidelines and FAQs and keep with you for future reference purposes. This web-portal will be open from 24^th April, 2026 to 23^rd May 2026 (till 23:59 hrs. IST).

For further enquiries regarding the INSPIRE-Fellowship component, please send an email to: inspire.​prog-​dst@​nic.​in. For queries, please call us on 0124 – 6690020, 0124 – 6690021.

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