The state education department has written a letter to Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) asking it to upload information related to Intermediate science toppers on the website of the department and the BSEB.

The Intermediate result is expected to be declared in the first week of June.

The education department’s directive aims at creating awareness about Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scholarship.

Once the information of the toppers is uploaded on the two websites, the ministry of science and technology will be able to pick up the names of the students, who could be provided the scholarship.

A senior education department officer said: “We have written a letter to the BSEB to upload Intermediate science toppers’ information on its website and on the education department website so that the department of science and technology can pick up the names of the toppers who can avail the benefit of the scholarship.”

BSEB secretary Lalan Jha said: “We have received a letter from the education department for uploading the Class XII science results on the education department and BSEB websites.”

The education department’s directive came in the wake of reports from the department of science and technology that only 23 students from Bihar have availed the benefits of INSPIRE in the past four years against the scheme that offers scholarships to 10,000 students every year across the country.

Under the scheme, 1 per cent of the total examinees, who take the state boards from respective states, can avail the science scholarship. The scheme offers 10,000 scholarships every year of Rs 80,000 each for undertaking bachelor and master degree courses in science subjects.

The information to be uploaded on the websites will include the name of students, percentage of marks he/she has scored in the Class XII examination, school in which he/she was studying, their residential address.

The education department officer said under the Inspire scheme, selected candidates will be supported for a maximum of five years, starting 1st year course in BSc and integrated course leading to MS or MSc or the completion of the course, whichever is earlier.