Archive · 14 Aug 2026
INSPIRE-SHE scholarship halted for redesign, not discontinued, clarifies govt
Some students in India who study science get special money from the government to help them go to school.
This help is called the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship.
Lately, people noticed that the money was not being given out anymore.
They worried that the government had stopped the program for good.
The government spoke up in Parliament to explain what happened.
A minister named Jitendra Singh said the program was not stopped forever.
He said it is just taking a little break so it can be made better.
The government wants the program to help students even more in the future.
Over the last five years, more and more students have been getting this help.
The good news is that the help will come back, just in a newer and better way.
The Department of Science and Technology clarified that the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship programme was not discontinued.
The scheme has been temporarily halted for a redesign.
The clarification came in a written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the redesign will strengthen the scheme's objectives, improve its implementation framework, and align it with emerging priorities in science education and research.
Beneficiaries under the INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education rose nearly 35% in five years, from 18,039 in 2021-22 to 24,276 in 2025-26.
- Who
- Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology
- What
- Clarified that the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship scheme is temporarily halted for a redesign and not discontinued
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- Rajya Sabha, in a written reply to a parliamentary question
- Why
- To redesign the scheme to strengthen its objectives, improve its implementation framework, and align it with emerging priorities in science education and research
- Scheme
- INSPIRE-SHE (INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education)
- Status
- Temporarily halted for redesign, not discontinued
- Clarifying body
- Department of Science and Technology
- Minister
- Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science and Technology
- Forum
- Written reply in Rajya Sabha
- Reason for redesign
- Strengthen objectives, improve implementation framework, align with emerging priorities in science education and research
- Beneficiaries
- Rose ~35% from 18,039 (2021-22) to 24,276 (2025-26)
