INSPIRE young scientists to be renamed as MANAK
The INSPIRE Awards (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired
Research), as they are now called, will be rechristened MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and
Knowledge) from this year
What is Innovation in
Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE)?
- This scheme offers 10,000 scholarships every year @ Rs.80,000/- each for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education in the Natural & Basic sciences
- Since the scheme’s inception in 2010, around 13.85 lakh students have been funded according to the INSPIRE website
- The awards component — directed at school children between 10-15 years — consists of selecting 100,000 school students with the best science ideas.
- Each of the 100,000 will be given Rs. 5,000 each to build a model or prototype that showcases a practical use of technology or science
- emphasised science-fair models rather than take students through the innovation chain
What is New?
- Best ideas would be worked upon by professional engineers and designers and taken up for potential commercial development with intellectual property rights for the children
- The top 60 ideas will also get incubation support…professionals will work on these and the children will share the intellectual property.
