INSPIRE Fellowship 2025 — DST, Government of India

The research proposal is the most critical component of your INSPIRE Fellowship application. It carries significant weight in the selection process and demonstrates your understanding of the chosen research area. This guide explains the structure, key sections, evaluation criteria, and common mistakes to avoid.

📋 Proposal Format (Prescribed by DST)

• Word count: Maximum 2000 words (excluding references)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing
• Margin: 1 inch all sides
• File format: PDF, max 2 MB
• Sections: Title page + 7 main sections

📝 Recommended Structure

1. Title Page

• Project title (concise, specific, < 20 words)
• Candidate name + application ID
• Mentor name + designation + host institute
• Research area (choose from DST's list)

2. Abstract (200 words)

• 1-2 sentence problem statement
• 1-2 sentence research gap
• 1-2 sentence proposed methodology
• 1-2 sentence expected outcomes
• 1-2 sentence broader impact

3. Background & Motivation (400 words)

• Introduce the broad research area
• Discuss recent developments (cite 5-8 key papers)
• Identify the specific gap your work will address
• Justify why this gap matters (scientific/societal impact)

4. Research Objectives (200 words)

• 3-5 specific, measurable objectives
• Start each with an action verb: 'Investigate', 'Develop', 'Characterize', 'Analyse'
• Avoid vague objectives like 'Study the properties of...'

5. Methodology (600 words)

• Theoretical framework / experimental design
• Materials, instruments, computational resources
• Step-by-step workflow (consider a flowchart)
• Statistical / analytical methods
• Timeline (Gantt chart recommended)

6. Expected Outcomes (300 words)

• 2-3 specific deliverables
• Potential publications (target journals/conferences)
• Societal/scientific impact
• Future research directions

7. References

• 15-25 references, recent (last 5 years preferred)
• Standard format (APA/IEEE/Nature)
• Include DOIs where possible

✅ Evaluation Criteria (Weight)

1. Originality & novelty (25%): Is the research question new? Does it fill a clear gap?
2. Scientific merit (25%): Is the methodology sound? Are objectives achievable in 5 years?
3. Candidate's capability (20%): Academic record + alignment with chosen area
4. Feasibility (15%): Resources at host institute? Mentor's expertise?
5. Clarity & presentation (10%): Well-structured, easy to follow, no grammatical errors
6. Societal relevance (5%): Broader impact on India's S&T goals

💡 Tips for a Winning Proposal

1. Choose a specific, focused topic — not 'AI in healthcare' but 'Deep learning for early diabetic retinopathy detection in Indian population'.
2. Show you've read the literature — cite 15-25 recent papers; mention what's missing.
3. Quantify everything possible — sample sizes, target accuracy, resolution, etc.
4. Demonstrate feasibility — list specific equipment/software you'll use and confirm availability.
5. Include a Gantt chart — shows realistic time planning.
6. Get feedback from your mentor — revise at least 3 times before submission.
7. Proofread for grammar — DST reviewers take clarity seriously.

⚠️ Common Mistakes That Lead to Rejection

• Proposal too generic — reads like a Wikipedia article
• No clear research gap identified
• Objectives not measurable ('Understand the mechanism of...')
• Methodology too vague — no specific techniques/equipment
• References are all > 5 years old
• Exceeds word limit (> 2000 words)
• Mismatch between proposed work and mentor's expertise
• Copy-pasted from previous proposals — DST uses plagiarism detection
• Grammatical errors, typos, formatting inconsistency
• No societal/scientific impact stated

📚 Sample Proposals

DST publishes selected winning proposals on the INSPIRE portal under 'Reference Material'. Read 2-3 to understand the expected depth and style.

📞 Mentor's Role

Your mentor must:

• Review the proposal before submission
• Provide a signed letter of support (template on portal)
• Confirm availability of lab resources
• Commit to supervising you for 5 years