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, laborers, 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 operational 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 nominations of two to three best original ideas, in any Indian language, by respective principal/headmaster online through E-MIAS (E-Management of INSPIRE Award Scheme) portal on web-link www.inspireawards-dst.gov.in
- The schools may also submit students’ ideas/innovations through NIF website on web-link www.nif.org.in/inspire/2017/submit-inspire-idea.
- Only the schools located in northeast region (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura) and Jammu & Kashmir may also send ideas/innovations by speed post in prescribed format to National Innovation Foundation – India, , Grambharti, Amrapur, Gandhinagar-Mahudi Road, Gandhinagar, Gujarat Pin: 382650 in an envelope superscribed as, “INSPIRE-MANAK Submissions”.
- Shortlisting of top 1,00,000 (one lakh) ideas, with potential to address societal needs through Science & Technology, by National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Disbursement of INSPIRE Award of INR 10,000 into bank accounts of students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) 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. Disbursement of INR 20,000 to student of each project through DBT for development of improved prototypes for the national level event. Selection of ideas/innovations will be based on novelty, social applicability, user and eco-friendliness and advantage over the existing technologies.
- Mentoring support to students at state level by NIF, in coordination with reputed academic and technology institutions of the country for development of prototypes.
- 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.