Student innovators from across the country exhibit their science & tech projects

Team L&M

If you want to see the kind of science and tech innovations the citizens of tomorrow are coming up with, visit ITPO, Delhi. It is here that the Ninth National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) of INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) is happening. The two-day exhibition that began yesterday has exhibits of 556 students from schools across the country. The one of its kind exhibition showcases the diversity of innovations and geographical balance it represents.

The award has been instituted to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10 towards science and technology. The objective of the scheme is 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, each school can nominate five best original ideas/innovations of students through this website.

The innovations by students reflect a realisation of national priorities like technologies for the differently abled, cleanliness and sanitation, as well as local and day-to-day necessities like picking fruits and cutting onions without hurting the eyes. Few of them are digital technology-related innovations that could contribute the digital economy.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Advisor, Department of Science and Technology (DST). Others present include Dr Namita Gupta, Head – INSPIRE Awards & Scientist G, DST; Dr Vipin Kumar, Director, NIF; Dr Sandeep Bansal, Scientist DST besides officials of state and UT governments, district officials, and teachers.

The NLEPC is an important milestone under the annual INSPIRE Awards, a flagship scheme jointly implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India, an autonomous body of the DST.

The students who successfully make their way into the top 60 from this NLEPC will be conferred with an award by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences tomorrow at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.