CBSE, Bihar students gain as UP loses out in INSPIRE scholarship allocation overhaul
In 2025, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) introduced quotas by school education board based on the number of Class 12 examinees
The Union government has revised the allocation model for INSPIRE-Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) awards, dramatically reducing the number of awards given to school boards in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. This change, effective for 2025, introduced quotas based on the number of Class 12 examinees rather than applications received from each board.
As a result, UPMSP students' chances of securing a science scholarship dropped by nearly 66%, from 6,129 in 2024 to 2,095 in 2025. In contrast, boards like CBSE, Maharashtra, and Bihar saw significant increases in allocations, with CBSE students receiving 1,397 scholarships in 2024 and Bihar students getting 1,056. The new quota system, based on share of total Class 12 examinees across India, has favored boards with fewer applicants, potentially leaving some scholarships unfilled and reducing the total number of awards.
Critics argue that this change could disadvantage students in states with a large pool of applicants, while some experts question the effectiveness of the revised allocation model.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
