The Star College Scheme was initiated by DBT in 2008 to support colleges and universities offering undergraduate education to improve science teaching across the country. This Scheme was launched for improving critical thinking and encouraging ‘hands on’ experimental science at undergraduate level in basic science subjects. On a larger perspective, the scheme was initiated envisioning that it shall encourage more students to take up higher education in science. Through this scheme the Department identifies colleges with potential for excellence and provides support for developing infrastructure for academics and laboratory activities. This support is in turn expected to invigorate teaching and provide unique exposure of students to experimental science. Starting with a meagre 30 colleges in 2008, this pan India scheme has supported science departments in more than 300 colleges all over the country till date.

Overall, it has been observed that the support received by colleges have resulted in a considerable decrease of student dropout rates in science subjects. Keeping in mind that this is the only scheme implemented by the Department to support science education at the undergraduate level, the Star College Scheme acts as a gateway and provides exposure to students about other schemes of the Department (and the GOI) to support higher education (post graduate level), graduate research (Ph.D.), post-doctoral research, international exchange programmes, short term industry-oriented training courses in science. The scheme also acts as a catalyst in igniting young minds (faculty and students) to engage in networking, exposure visits to research institutes and industries and apply for research grants in order to prepare them for future challenges after the successful completion of their undergraduate courses.