INSPIRE MANAK Awards 2026-27 Nomination Registration

Nominations for INSPIRE Awards by MANAK Programme for the current year 2026-26 have been opened w.e.f July 15, 2026 till September 15, 2026.

INPIRE MANAK INSTRUCTIONS

• All schools should submit five nominations from Class 6 to Class 10.
• All UP schools should submit 3 Nominations.
• All management schools must submit Nominations.
• It has been decided to include students of Class XI and Class XII in the eligibility criteria of the Scheme one from each class. Thus, from this year onwards, school students studying in classes 6-12 will be eligible to submit their ideas. The registered schools under the INSPIRE-MANAK Scheme, in each financial year can nominate 5 best ideas from their schools (7 ideas from high schools plus schools) through online mode, in E Management of the INSPIRE-MANAK Scheme (E-MIAS) web portal of the Department using the link: www.inspireawards-d.gov.in.

📢 all District Educational Officers are requested to disseminate same to all the headmasters, science teachers through the District Nodal Officers (DNOs) so that the schools may nominate the best five original ideas/innovations of students (CLAS 6-10) through the E-MIAS (inspireawards-dst.gov.in) web portal.

📢 Schools registered on the EMIAS portal can still register and mobilise the maximum number of nominations from their respective districts.

📢 Under this scheme, all recognized schools in the country (whether run by Central Government or State Government or local body or NGOs), including private schools (aided or unaided), having classes from 6th to 12th (whether all or some), are eligible to enroll in the scheme and submit nominations of eligible children to DST through their respective District / State education authorities on-line.

Important Links

INSPIRE–MANAK Scheme during the academic year 2026–27

• Disseminate the information regarding the INSPIRE–MANAK Scheme to all Government, Local Body, Aided and Private Recognized Schools having Classes VI to XII in their jurisdiction.
• Ensure that all eligible schools are registered on the INSPIRE–MANAK E­MIAS portal and facilitate registration of schools that are yet to be covered under the Scheme.
• Motivate every eligible school to identify innovative ideas from students and submit the maximum permissible five nominations per school through the E-MIAS portal.
• Conduct awareness meetings, orientation programmes and review meetings at the divisional level for Science (PS/BS) Teachers regarding the objectives, eligibility, nomination process and timelines of the Scheme.
• Issue comprehensive guidelines to all District Science Officers (DSOs) to ensure the maximum number of INSPIRE–MANAK nominations for the academic year 2026–27. The District Science Officers shall regularly monitor the nomination progress at the district level, provide necessary technical support to schools, resolve issues related to school registration and online nominations and take all appropriate measures to achieve the district targets within the stipulated timeline.
• Review the progress of school registrations and online nominations periodically at the district level and submit progress reports to the State Nodal Officer, INSPIRE–MANAK, SCERT, Andhra Pradesh, at regular intervals.
• Ensure that all eligible schools complete the online nomination process well before 15th September, 2026, without waiting until the last date, to avoid inconvenience due to heavy traffic on the portal.

Here we explain about the Inspire Awards and how to apply for the Inspire Awards.

About INSPIRE Awards

‘Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research’ (INSPIRE) scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge), being executed by DST with the National Innovation Foundation – India (NIF), an autonomous body of DST, aims to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10. The scheme aims to target one million original ideas/innovations rooted in science and societal applications to foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children. Under this scheme, schools can nominate 5 best original ideas/innovations of students through this website till 30 September 2020.

This scheme is being operationalised as per the following steps:

• Awareness and capacity building of District, State and School level functionaries across the country through regional workshops, audio-visual tools and literature.
• Organising internal idea competitions in schools and nominations of two to three best original ideas, in any Indian language, by the respective Principal/Headmaster online through E-MIAS (E-Management of INSPIRE Awards MANAK Scheme) portal. The schools should register themselves on E-MIAS portal.Shortlisting of top 1,00,000 (one lakh) ideas, with potential to address societal needs through Science & Technology by NIF.
• Disbursement of INSPIRE Award of INR 10,000 into the bank accounts of short-listed students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.
• Organisation of District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC) by District/State authorities and shortlisting of 10,000 best ideas/innovations for State Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (SLEPC).
• Organisation of State Level Exhibition & Project Competition (SLEPC) for further shortlisting of top 1,000 ideas/innovations for the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC). At this stage, NIF will provide mentoring support to students for development of prototypes, in coordination with reputed academic and technology institutions of the country.
• Selection of ideas/innovations will be based on novelty, social applicability, environment friendliness, user friendliness and comparative advantage over the existing similar technologies.
• Showcasing 1,000 best ideas/innovations at the National Level Exhibition & Project Competition (NLEPC) and shortlisting of top 60 innovations for national awards and future direction.
• Consideration of top 60 ideas/innovations by NIF for product/process development and their linkage with other schemes of NIF/DST and their display at the Annual Festival of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (FINE).