Srinagar, Jan 01: In a remarkable showcase of creativity, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an influx of 35,211 innovative ideas from students in grades 6 to 10 for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK 2023-2024. These groundbreaking ideas have now been formally submitted to the National Innovation Foundation of India, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of scientific excellence.
Dr. Sajad Ahmad Mir, the esteemed Nodal Officer of INSPIRE MANAK for Kashmir at SCERT Jammu and Kashmir, shared insights into the prestigious INSPIRE scheme. Conceived as the “Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research,” this flagship program is under the auspices of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. Collaborating with the National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST, the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) aims to fuel a passion for scientific innovation among students in classes 6 to 10.
Mir elucidated on the scheme’s core objective, emphasizing its mission to unearth one million original ideas and innovations deeply rooted in science and societal applications. The ultimate goal is to cultivate a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children. Under the scheme, schools have the opportunity to nominate the five best original ideas or innovations from their students.
This year, a staggering total of 35,211 innovative ideas have flooded in from both government and private schools across the Union Territory for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK 2023-2024. The National Innovation Foundation of India (NIF) is set to meticulously sift through these submissions, selecting the top 10 percent of innovative ideas from students across the nation. The chosen students will be honored with a monetary reward of Rs 10,000, deposited directly into their bank accounts. This exclusive group will also be granted the chance to bring their innovative ideas to life by developing prototype models, a selection process overseen by the National Innovation Foundation of India.
Mir elaborated on the next steps, noting that the selected 10 percent of students from all corners of India will engage in district-level competitions. The most outstanding ideas at this stage will further advance to compete at the State or Union Territory level. The zenith of this intellectual journey lies in the national-level competitions, where the top innovative idea from each state or Union Territory will contend for the grand accolade.
In a bid to nurture and refine these innovative concepts, the National Innovation Foundation of India organizes workshops at the state or Union Territory levels. These workshops provide comprehensive support to students in honing their prototype models. Remarkably, should a student aspire to invest additional funds in their selected prototype model for the national competitions, the National Innovation Foundation of India offers proper assistance, extending up to Rs 25,000. This commitment ensures that students’ models are fully realized according to their creative visions.
Mir emphasised that students need not worry about the financial burden associated with creating these prototype models, as the government generously covers all expenses. The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK initiative stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to fostering scientific curiosity and innovation among the youth, shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.
