New Delhi: The 11th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) of INSPIRE–MANAK culminated today with a grand felicitation ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), emphasized the profound societal, national, and global impact of nurturing young minds, highlighting the potential of their ideas to spark groundbreaking innovations.
Addressing the young winners, Professor Karandikar said, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these students receive the necessary resources, support, and opportunities to continue their remarkable journey.” He added that India has the opportunity to rise into the top five innovative nations globally by 2047, thanks to the efforts of these young leaders.
The event celebrated the creativity and passion of 350 students from schools across the country, whose innovative ideas were on display. Among them, the top 31 young innovators were felicitated during the ceremony. The first prize went to Deepak, a class 10 student from Govt. High School Udotgarh, Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, for developing a “Safe Vision Distance Sensor in Smart Phone.” The second prize was awarded to Aanay Dwivedi from The Manthan School, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, for his “Pothole Repair System using Plastic Trash,” while the third prize was claimed by Amulya Hegde, a class 9 student from GPUC Kukkuje, Udupi, Karnataka, for her “Flood Detecting Pole.”
Professor Karandikar also highlighted the collaboration potential between INSPIRE-MANAK and Atal Tinkering Labs, emphasizing that these young innovators could utilize the vast resources available to further develop their skills. He said, “Such collaborations would help leverage the entire strength of various Government of India programs and maximize the potential of our youth.”
The INSPIRE-MANAK (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research – Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) initiative is a flagship scheme of DST, implemented by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Designed to foster creativity and promote innovation among school students, the scheme has gained considerable traction over the years. During the 2022-23 cycle, the initiative received nearly 8 lakh applications from across 777 districts in India, with 52% of participants being girls. This inclusivity has been a cornerstone of the program’s success, with a majority of participating schools hailing from rural areas.
The exhibition, held from September 17-18, 2024, saw widespread participation from students, teachers, and officials, creating an environment of learning and inspiration. Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairperson of NIF, highlighted the importance of equipping schools with more innovative tools through partnerships with Atal Tinkering Labs. He also mentioned the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly the introduction of the “Jadui Pitara” curriculum, which integrates STEM education to enhance learning.
During the felicitation ceremony, it was announced that starting next year, students from classes 11 and 12 would also be eligible to participate in the annual competition, expanding the reach and impact of the program.
Dr. Namita Gupta, Head of INSPIRE-MANAK DST, and Dr. Arvind C. Ranade, Director of NIF India, along with senior officials, applauded the innovative spirit of the young participants. They expressed optimism that these young minds would play a pivotal role in shaping India’s future scientific landscape.