Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India is successfully implementing 'Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scheme since 2010. The scheme covers students in the age group of 10-32 years and has five components. The first component, INSPIRE Award aims to motivate students, in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10, to pursue Science and a career in Research.

The INSPIRE Award - MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) is being revamped and executed by Department of Science & Technology and National Innovation Foundation-India to align it with the action plan for "Start-up India" initiative launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. The scheme aims to help build a critical human resource pool for strengthening, expand science and technology system and increase the research & development base on the same by inviting students from all government and private schools throughout the country and enabling them to send their original & creative technological ideas/innovations on the same.

Under the INSPIRE AWARDS - MANAK Scheme, students will be invited from all government or private schools throughout the country, irrespective of their educational boards (national and state) to send original and creative technological ideas/innovations focusing on common problems and come up with solutions on their own., be it household or for porters, labourers, society or the likes. Once the student has thought of an idea, he/she can submit their ideas to the Principal/Headmaster of their schools.

This scheme will be operationalised as per the following steps:    

• Awareness and capacity building of District and State level functionaries across the country through regional workshop and audio-visual tools and literature.

• Organizing internal competitions in schools and nomination of two to three best    original ideas, in any Indian language, by respective the Principal/Headmaster online through E-MIAS (E-Management of INSPIRE Award Scheme (www.inspireawards-dst.gov.in) portal.    

• The new schools may also register themselves on E-MIAS portal.    

•  Shortlisting of top 1,00,000 ideas, with potential to address societal needs through Science & Technology, by NIF. Disbursement of INSPIRE Award of INR 10,000 into bank accounts of students under Direct  Benefit Transfer scheme.

•  Organisation of District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC) by District/State authorities and shortlisting of 10,000 best ideas/innovations for State Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (SLEPC).

•  Organisation    of State Level Exhibition & Project Competition (SLEPC) for further shortlisting of top 1,000 ideas/innovations. At this stage, NIF will provide mentoring support to students for the development of prototypes, in coordination with the reputed academic and    technology institutions of the country.
• Selection of ideas/innovations will be based on novelty, social applicability, environment friendliness, user friendliness and comparative advantage over the existing similar technologies.
• Showcasing 1,000 best ideas/innovations at National Level Exhibition & Project Competition (NLEPC) and shortlisting of top 60 prototypes/innovations for national awards and future direction.
• Consideration of top 60 ideas/innovations by NIF for product/process development  and their linkage with other schemes of NIF/DST and display of top innovations at the Annual Festival of Innovation and  Entrepreneurship (FINE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The following activities were undertaken in the session 2021-2022:

          1. A meeting of state nodal officers of all states was organized by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) in the month of July and the same was attended by SNOINSPIRE H.P. about nominations and organization of DLEPCs and SLEPCs 2019-2020.
          2 .In order to enhance the nominations from the schools a series of science teacher’s orientation program has been launched in the state. A total of 2534 Teachers from all districts were oriented as per the details given below:

DNOs of all the Districts and State Nodal Officer along with Assistant State Nodal Officer were present during whole programmew.e.f23-08-21 to 31-08-21. All the DNOs and some participants appreciated these training programmes.

    3. Organized online 8^th    National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) 2019-20 under INSPIRE Awards –MANAK in the state in collaboration with National Innovation Foundation (NIF) Gandhinagar Gujarat from September 4-7, 2021. Total 11 students participated in the said competition from the state and two students including Nishant Thakur of Class IX, Royal Public School Swahan, Bilaspur and Suraj Thakur, of Class VIII, Government Senior Secondary School Panjgain, Bilaspur were selected from the state among best 60 top models at National level.

    4. Launched a massive drive online nomination program for INSPIRE Awards in all eligible schools of the state and a total of 6479 students have uploaded their ideas on the nomination portal maintained by Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of  India. The district-wise nomination is as below:

   5. Organized 9^th SLEPC 2021-22 online in the State in collaboration with NIF on January 27-28, 2022. Total of 54 awardees participated and 5 awardees were selected for the 9^th  NLEPC 2021-22

   6. Organized 9^th SLEPC 2021-22 online in the State in collaboration with NIF on January 27-28, 2022. Total of 54 awardees participated and 5 awardees were selected for the 9^th NLEPC 2021-22

Coordinator and Asstt. Coordinators Team