How to Register Online in INSPIRE Awards - MANAK Scheme 2023-24

The INSPIRE Awards - MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) scheme, executed by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, is a flagship program aimed at motivating students between the ages of 10-15 years who are studying in classes 6 to 10. The objective of the scheme is to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children by targeting one million original ideas and innovations rooted in science and societal applications. In this article, we will guide you on how to register online for the INSPIRE Awards - MANAK Scheme 2023-24.

Step 1: School Registration

To participate in the INSPIRE Awards - MANAK Scheme, all recognized schools in India, including those run by the Central Government, State Government, local bodies, or NGOs, as well as private schools (aided or unaided) with classes from 6th to 10th, are eligible to enroll in the scheme. The registration process for schools involves obtaining a permanent registration number (Application No.) from their respective district authority. If your school is already registered, proceed with the login option. In case of any issues with the user ID and password, use the "forgot password" option. For more details on school registration, you can refer to the official manual or contact the help desk via email at inspire@nifindia.org.

Step 2: Eligibility Criteria

The INSPIRE Awards - MANAK Scheme is open to students between the ages of 10-15 years who are studying in classes 6 to 10. The scheme encourages students to come up with original ideas and innovations that have the potential to address societal needs through science and technology. The ideas should demonstrate novelty, social applicability, environment friendliness, user friendliness, and a comparative advantage over existing similar technologies.

Step 3: Internal Idea Competitions in Schools

Once the school is registered, they can organize internal idea competitions to identify the best original ideas among their students. Each school can nominate 2-3 of the most innovative ideas through the E-MIAS (E-Management of INSPIRE Awards MANAK Scheme) portal. The nominations should be made by the respective Principal or Headmaster of the school. The ideas can be submitted in any Indian language.

Step 4: Shortlisting of Ideas

The National Innovation Foundation - India (NIF), an autonomous body of the DST, is responsible for shortlisting the top 1,00,000 (one lakh) ideas that have the potential to address societal needs through science and technology. The shortlisted students will receive an INSPIRE Award of INR 10,000, which will be disbursed directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.

Step 5: District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC)

After the shortlisting process, the district and state authorities will organize the District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC). The DLEPC aims to showcase and evaluate the 10,000 best ideas and innovations from different schools. The top ideas from the DLEPC will then proceed to the State Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC).

Step 6: State Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC)

The State Level Exhibition and Project Competition (SLEPC) will further shortlist the top 1,000 ideas and innovations for the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC). At this stage, the NIF will provide mentoring support to the students for the development of prototypes. This support will be coordinated with reputed academic and technology institutions in the country.

Step 7: National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC)

The National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) is a platform to showcase the best 1,000 ideas and innovations from across the country. From the NLEPC, the top 60 innovations will be selected for national awards and future direction. These top ideas will also be considered by the NIF for product/process development and their linkage with other schemes of the NIF and DST. The selected ideas will be displayed at the Annual Festival of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (FINE).

Conclusion

The INSPIRE Awards - MANAK Scheme 2023-24 is a wonderful opportunity for students in India to showcase their creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills in the field of science and technology. By participating in this scheme, students can contribute to the development of new ideas and innovations that have the potential to address societal needs. If you are a student or a school interested in participating, make sure to follow the registration process and guidelines mentioned on the official INSPIRE Awards - MANAK website.