Archive · 11 Dec 2025
DST Initiatives Boost Youth in Science
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) in India has started special programs to get more young people interested in science and research.
One program, called INSPIRE-MANAK, is for kids in classes 6 to 8.
Schools can send in ideas from these students, and the best ones get money to build projects and show them off in exhibitions.
Another program, INSPIRE-SHE, gives scholarships to older students who are really good at science.
There's also a program called Vigyan Jyoti that helps girls from different places learn more about science and technology.
All these programs aim to make India stronger in science and research.
DST implements INSPIRE-MANAK, INSPIRE-SHE, and Vigyan Jyoti to attract youth to science and research.
INSPIRE-MANAK targets students aged 10-17 in classes 6-8, offering Rs 10,000 for model/project development.
INSPIRE-SHE provides 12,000 annual scholarships worth Rs 0.80 lakh for students aged 17-22 in natural and basic sciences.
Vigyan Jyoti focuses on encouraging girls from classes 9-12, particularly from underrepresented regions, to pursue STEM careers.
Selected students in INSPIRE-MANAK receive mentoring for prototype development and potential commercialization.
- Who
- Department of Science and Technology (DST)
- What
- Implements INSPIRE-MANAK, INSPIRE-SHE, and Vigyan Jyoti programs
- When
- Ongoing initiatives
- Where
- India
- Why
- To attract young talent and boost India's science research ecosystem
- INSPIRE-MANAK
- Scheme for students aged 10-17 in classes 6-8
- INSPIRE-SHE
- Scholarship for students aged 17-22 in natural and basic sciences
- Vigyan Jyoti
- Program for girls in classes 9-12 to pursue STEM careers
- INSPIRE-MANAK Scholarship Amount
- Rs 10,000 per student for model/project development
- INSPIRE-SHE Scholarship Amount
- Rs 0.80 lakh per year for 12,000 students annually
- INSPIRE-MANAK Selection Process
- 50,000 students selected from one million ideas annually
- INSPIRE-SHE Selection Criteria
- Top 1% of school boards with at least 60% annually