INSPIRE Awards – MANAK

What is INSPIRE Awards – MANAK?

INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) is a scheme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. INSPIRE Awards MANAK is executed by DST in association with the National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), and it aims to build a culture of creativity and scientific thinking among school children.

According to the INSPIRE Awards portal, the scheme targets one million original ideas and innovations rooted in science from students across the country every year. Each participating school submits its best student ideas online, a national panel shortlists them, and every shortlisted student receives Rs 10,000 to turn the idea into a working model or prototype.

Main features

• Fully funded by the Department of Science and Technology: no cost to schools or students.
• Open to students of classes 6 to 10 in recognised schools.
• Award money of Rs 10,000 is transferred to the student's bank account.
• Built around a four-stage competition: school nomination, then district, state and national exhibitions.

Who is eligible for INSPIRE Awards MANAK?

Students who can take part:

• Students studying in classes 6 to 10, generally aged between 10 and 15 years.
• Enrolled in any recognised school — government, government-aided or private, with a valid UDISE code.
• The idea or innovation must be the student's own original thought, rooted in science and addressing an everyday or societal problem.

Who cannot apply directly:

• A student cannot apply on their own. Nominations are made by the school through the INSPIRE Awards portal, so a private individual or parent cannot self-nominate.
• Students outside the classes 6 to 10 band are not covered by the core award (the DST portal notes wider activity up to class 12, but the Rs 10,000 award process is built around classes 6 to 10).
• Ideas copied from existing products, textbooks or the internet are not eligible; the scheme is meant for original ideas.

Each school may nominate up to five of its best original ideas in a cycle. Because the school is the gatekeeper, a student's first step is to convince a science teacher or the head of school to enter the idea.

What documents are required for INSPIRE Awards MANAK?

How to apply for INSPIRE Awards MANAK

1. The school registers on the INSPIRE Awards portal at inspireawards-dst.gov.in (the E-MIAS system) using its UDISE code and authorised login.
2. Students share their original ideas with their science teacher or head of school, who selects the best ones.
3. The school uploads up to five student ideas online during the open nomination window (the portal shows when nominations for the current financial year are open).
4. A national panel screens the ideas; shortlisted students are informed through the school, and Rs 10,000 is transferred to each selected student's bank account to build a model or prototype.
5. Awardees present their models at the District-Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC). Selected students advance to the State-Level (SLEPC) and then the National-Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC).

Because nomination is school-driven, students and parents should raise their idea with the school rather than trying to register on the portal themselves.

What happens at the district, state and national levels?

INSPIRE Awards MANAK is not just a cash award. After receiving Rs 10,000 and building a model, students compete in a tiered exhibition:

• District level (DLEPC): all awardees in a district display their models. The best move up.
• State level (SLEPC): district toppers compete; selected students advance again.
• National level (NLEPC): the strongest innovations from every state are showcased. Top national innovators receive mentoring, exposure and support towards prototyping and, where relevant, intellectual-property protection.

This ladder is designed so that a single good idea from a small school can travel all the way to a national stage.

Help and contact

• INSPIRE Awards helpline: 0120-2400083 or 096384-18605, Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Email: inspire@nifindia.org
• Portal: inspireawards-dst.gov.in for registration, nomination status and guidelines.

Participation is free at every stage. No school or student should pay any agent to be nominated or to receive the Rs 10,000 award, which is paid only through direct bank transfer.