The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) is a flagship initiative by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Launched in December 2008, this program aims to cultivate a culture of creativity and innovation among school students aged 10 to 15 years, specifically those studying in Classes 6 to 10.
OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK scheme is to:
- Encourage students to develop original ideas and innovations rooted in science and societal applications.
- Foster a culture of creative and critical thinking in schools.
- Identify and nurture young talents to pursue science and research careers.
ELIGIBILITY
- Students: Aged between 10 and 15 years and enrolled in Classes 6 to 10.
- Schools: All recognized schools across India, irrespective of the board affiliation, can participate. Each school can nominate 2 to 3 students with original and creative ideas. Selection Criteria
SUBMISSIONS ARE EVALUATED BASED ON:
- Novelty: Originality and uniqueness of the idea.
- Social Applicability: Relevance and potential impact on society.
- Environmental Friendliness: Sustainability and eco-friendliness of the innovation.
- User-Friendliness: Ease of use and accessibility.
- Comparative Advantage: Improvement over existing solutions or technologies.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
- Nomination: Schools nominate 2-3 students with innovative ideas through the online portal.
- Shortlisting: From over 5 lakh schools, 1 lakh ideas are shortlisted annually.
- Award: Selected students receive an INSPIRE Award of ₹10,000 each via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to develop prototypes.
- Exhibitions:
- District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC): Shortlisted students present their prototypes.
- State Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC): Top projects from DLEPCs compete at the state level.
- National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC): Top 1,000 projects from SLEPCs are showcased nationally.
- Recognition:
- Top 60 projects receive National Awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze).
- Winners participate in the Festival of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (FINE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- Selected students may visit Japan under the Sakura Exchange Program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Registration: Schools register by using their U-DISE code.
- Nomination: After registration, schools can nominate students by submitting their project ideas online.
- Acknowledgment: Upon successful submission, an acknowledgment receipt is generated for future reference. Impact
The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK scheme has significantly contributed to nurturing scientific temper and innovation among young students. By providing a platform to showcase their creativity, it empowers students to address real-world challenges through scientific solutions. The program not only recognizes young innovators but also mentors them, paving the way for a robust scientific community in the future.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH KEY
| MCQ | CLICK HERE |
RESOURCE HANDBOOKS
| Handbook 1 | CLICK HERE |
| Handbook 2 | CLICK HERE |
| Handbook 3 | CLICK HERE |
