"Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)" is an innovative programme sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to Science. The basic objective of INSPIRE is to communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age and thus build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and R & D base.

A striking feature of the programme is that it does not believe in conducting competitive exams for identification of talent at any level. It believes in and relies on the efficacy of the existing educational structure for identification of talent.

"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world."

-Louis Pasteur

The Department of Science and Technology, established on 3^rd May, 1971, has played a catalytic role in the promotion of research and development in science and technology and has served the function of a nodal department organizing, coordinating and promoting scientific activities in the country. The Department strives to strengthen the foundation of science and technology base of India and launch programmes with long term benefits

One of the components of “Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent for Science (SEATS)” is INSPIRE Internship in which annually about 50,000 students of top 1% performers in Class X board examinations and pursuing science at higher Secondary level are being given an exposure with leaders in science in the Summer/Winter camps to experience the joy of innovations. These Science Camps essentially nourish the curiosity of children in science; help them to think out of the box and attract the students at an early age of 16-17 years (i.e. in XI standard) to enroll in science subjects.

Deshbandhu College has been organizing the INSPIRE Internship Programme since 2012-2015, 2017 and 2019 in the college campus. In these programmes top 1% performers of Class X board examination in respective years have been given an opportunity to listen and interact with the world renowned leaders in science. The programme includes interactive sessions and hands-on-training through experimentations. Here, the students learn to think out of the box and develop critical thinking skills. Inspiring lectures by highly educated intellectual Mentors have been motivating the students towards the creative pursuit of science. They have been learning as well as enjoying the practical sessions in Botany, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Physics and Zoology Laboratories. The programme is fully sponsored by Department of Science & Technology.

Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi organized a student outreach program, INSPIRE-DST, under the encouragement and leadership of our Principal, Dr. Rajiv Aggarwal and DBT STAR College coordinator, Dr. I.K Singh from 17^th to 21^st December, 2019. The program witnessed participation of over 300 students from various government as well as public schools from all corners of Delhi. The program aims to build a bridge between the knowledge gained at school level and the applications learnt at the undergraduate level. The Department of Botany participated in the program along with Departments of Physics, Chemistry & Biochemistry. The students were abridged about Gram-staining technique and taught about its ude to detect pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. The five-day event was coordinated with the help of all the faculty members of the Department of Botany under the convenorship of Teacher in-charge, Dr. Rajender Kumar.

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Rajender Kumar

Number of participants: More than 300

Date of the program organized: 17^th - 21^st December, 2019

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Dharmendra K. Mallick

Number of participants: More than ____

Date of the program organized: 18^th - 22^nd December, 2017

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Roshni Rajamohan Mathur

Number of participants: More than ____

Date of the program organized: 14^th - 18^th December, 2015

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Bela Bhatia

Number of participants: More than

Date of the program organized: 8^th - 12^th October, 2014

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Bela Bhatia

Number of participants: More than

Date of the program organized: 16^th - 20^th December, 2013

Practical Exercise: To identify Gram positive and negative bacteria using Gram stain from sour curd.

Coordinator: Dr. Indrakant K. Singh

Botany Coordinator: Dr Sarla Gupta

Number of participants: More than

Date of the program organized: 1^st - 5^th October, 2012