Platforms like INSPIRE help students to pursue career in research: Cabinet Secretary

Describing Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) as unique, Union Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth on Monday said such programmes served as right platforms to attract talented students to study science and pursue careers with research.

Inaugurating the fourth National Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (NLEPC ) at Pragati Maidan here, Seth said that the young buds have definitely showed their mettle and the future awaits them for a prestigious contribution in the field of science and technology.

Implemented during 2009-10 after its launch on December 13, 2008, the INSPIRE programme covers students in the age group 10-32 years and has an objective to communicate to the youth of the country the excitement of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age.

This helps build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the science and technology system and Research and Development base.

Under the INSPIRE internship, as on date, about 1046 Science Camps have been held covering about 2.33 lakh students in the age group of 16-17 years, 40 Nobel Laureates and about 8000 resource persons participated in these camps.

Moreover, about 46000 scholarships for students in the age group of 17-22 years have been given and about 4100 INSPIRE Fellows in the age group of 22 -27 years have been enrolled so far.

Finally, under the Faculty Award for Assured Career, 573 individuals have been awarded inspire faculty fellowship for initiating research work in various universities/ academic institutions/ laboratories in the country.