Lok Sabha Question No. 3375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: INSPIRE Awards
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3375 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/03/2020

## INSPIRE AWARDS

## 3375. SHRI P RAVEENDRANATH KUMAR:

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details about INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)MANAK (Million Minds   Augmenting National  Aspiration and Knowledge) with fund allocation for each of the State/UT including Tamil Nadu; along
- (b) whether this scheme has been implemented by the Government mainly to attract talented young boys and girls to study science and pursue research as a career and if the details thereof;
- whether the Government has also   instructed the State   Governments to involve students from villages under this scheme; and
- (d) if the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to augment the number of students participation in science related activities?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR: HARSH VARDHAN)

rd 84

(a) & (b) Department of Science & Technology (DST) under Ministry of Science Technology is   implementing INSPIRE Awards MANAK   (Million Minds   Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) scheme, under its flagship programme Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) The INSPIRE Awards MANAK scheme is a unique initiative to attract talented school students at an early age to study science and pursue research career, apart from fostering a culture of innovation among them.

The scheme caters to school children in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in class 6-10. INSPIRE Award MANAK scheme targets ten (10.0) lakh ideas from more than five (05) lakh middle and high schools across the country every year: Out of these, one lakh ideas are eligible for INSPIRE Award of Rs. 100O0/-each: participate in district, state and national level exhibitions and competitions. The participants of national level exhibition are provided mentorship at premier educational and technical institutions of the country. projects are rewarded as national winners. Top sixty

In 2019-20   cycle, 3,92,486 ideas and innovations   have been received by the department from students Of all States and Union Territories of the country. Out of these, 42,143 ideas were selected  for INSPIRE Award and each student was provided with a financial support of Rs 10,000/- for participation in the program: The details of the funds allocated for INSPIRE Awards and towards organization of District/State Level Exhibitions & Project Competitions (DSLEPCs) to all the State/UTs, including to the State of Tamil Nadu, is at Annexure:

(c) & The scheme covers school children in the age group of 10 to 15 years and studying in class VI to X in about five lakh middle and high schools across the country, including students from villages.

To augment the number of students participating in INSPIRE MANAK scheme, mass awareness of the scheme through audio-visual tools, posters, brochures developed in local and regional   languages, is undertaken by the   department: Regional and district level workshops are organized involving teachers, district and state  functionaries   implementing the   scheme, to   popularize the scheme and enhance participation in the scheme. being being

Further, to   augment the   students towards science related   activities,  National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) under DST is organizing Children'$ Science Congress every year; where in children an opportunity to exhibit their creative thinking and innovativeness in applying methods of science to solve societal problems  experienced  locally. NCSTC also organizes   science fairs, melas, expositions, interactive media   visits to S&T establishments like labs and industry, hands-on-STEM activities, and so 0n to create and enhance scientific knowledge of students: get

DST is also implementing Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KYPY) to attract exceptionally highly motivated students for pursuing basic science courses and research career in science:  The objective of the program is to identify students with  talent and aptitude for research; help them realize their academic potential; encourage them to take up research career in science and ensure the growth of the best   scientific minds  for research and development in the country:

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), under Ministry of Science & Technology, has started a student-scientist connect programme JIGYASA with an objective to extend the   classroom   learning and to   focus on 4 well planned research laboratory based learning Student residential programmes, lab specific activities are included under this program: etc ,

National Council of Educational Research and Training under Ministry of Human Resource Development is implementing National Talent Search Scheme (NTS) to identify and nurture talented students by awarding them with   scholarships. The scholarships are given to students qualifying National Talent Search Examination.

## Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of the Question No. 3375 to be on 13/03/2020 Funds allocated/ sanctioned to StatelUTs and under the scheme: replied

| SL    | StatesfUTs                         | Funds allocated for INSPIRE Awards sanctioned in 2019-20 Rs. in lakh)   | Funds release for organisation of DISLEPCs during 2018-19 and 2019-20 Rs. In Lakh)   |
|-------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       | Andaman and Nicobar                | 2.7                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 2     | Andhra Pradesh                     | 521.3                                                                   |                                                                                      |
| 3     | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 11                                                                      |                                                                                      |
| 4     | Assam                              | 9.7                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 5     | Bihar                              | 42.3                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 6     | Chandigarh                         | 4.9                                                                     | 2.06                                                                                 |
| 7     | Chhattisgarh                       | 307.8                                                                   | 44.17                                                                                |
| 8     | Dadra and Nagar Haveli             | 0.9                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 9     | Daman and Diu                      | 2.8                                                                     | 1.30                                                                                 |
| 10    | Delhi                              | 30.5                                                                    | 3.37                                                                                 |
| 11    | Goa                                |                                                                         |                                                                                      |
| 12    | Gujarat                            | 101.2                                                                   |                                                                                      |
| 13    | Haryana                            | 88.8                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 14    | Himachal Pradesh                   | 106.2                                                                   | 65.40                                                                                |
| 15    | #Jammu and Kashmir                 | 26.4                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 16    | Jharkhand                          | 62.6                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 17    | Karnataka                          | 786.1                                                                   | 104.48                                                                               |
| 18    | Kerala                             | 24.9                                                                    | 5.03                                                                                 |
| 19    | Lakshadweep                        | 0.4                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 20    | Madhya Pradesh                     | 231                                                                     | 53.70                                                                                |
| 21    | Maharashtra                        | 384.4                                                                   | 164.20                                                                               |
| 22    | Manipur                            |                                                                         | 1.13                                                                                 |
| 23    | Meghalaya                          | 1.7                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 24    | Mizoram                            | 11                                                                      |                                                                                      |
| 25    | Nagaland                           | 0.9                                                                     |                                                                                      |
| 26    | Odisha                             | 136.6                                                                   | 92.51                                                                                |
| 27    | Puducherry                         | 15.7                                                                    | 6.21                                                                                 |
| 28    | Punjab                             | 36.2                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 29    | Rajasthan                          | 201.9                                                                   |                                                                                      |
| 30    | Sikkim                             | 13.6                                                                    | 16.77                                                                                |
| 31    | Tamil Nadu                         | 230.2                                                                   | 84.82                                                                                |
| 32    | Telangana                          | 347.2                                                                   | 146.47                                                                               |
| 33    | Tripura                            | 14.2                                                                    | 9.18                                                                                 |
| 34 25 | Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand          | 194.7                                                                   |                                                                                      |
| 36    | West Bengal                        | 24L.1                                                                   | 97.40                                                                                |
|       |                                    | 6.2                                                                     |                                                                                      |
|       | #Autonomus Institutions            |                                                                         |                                                                                      |
|       | Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) | 27.5                                                                    |                                                                                      |
| 2     | Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS)    | 2.5                                                                     |                                                                                      |
|       | Total                              | 4214.3                                                                  | 898.20                                                                               |

**********