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సైన్స్ మరియు టెక్నాలజీGS3
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INSPIRE-MANAK Scheme Felicitates Young Innovators at NLEPC

Source:PIB ↗

ఇది ఎందుకు ముఖ్యం

This event underscores India's policy thrust toward cultivating grassroots innovation, scientific curiosity, and a startup mindset right at the school level through initiatives like INSPIRE-MANAK, which is critical for India's transition into a self-reliant, knowledge-based economy.

సారాంశం

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh felicitated 62 young innovators at the 12th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC), highlighting how school students under the INSPIRE-MANAK scheme are converting innovative ideas into commercial products and fostering a culture of grassroots entrepreneurship and scientific temperament in India.

ముఖ్య అంశాలు

  • Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh felicitated 62 young innovators at the 12th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC).
  • The NLEPC showcases grassroots innovations developed by school students under the INSPIRE-MANAK scheme, managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Innovation Foundation (NIF).
  • Emphasized that school students are successfully turning innovative ideas into marketable products and entrepreneurship, marking a shift toward an indigenous innovation ecosystem.
  • Highlighting India's rise in the Global Innovation Index (GII) to 39th rank, driven by institutional support for youth-led research and development.

ముఖ్యమైన పదాలు

INSPIRE MANAK scheme

A flagship program by the Department of Science and Technology and National Innovation Foundation targeting students in classes 6 to 10 to foster original scientific ideas and grassroots entrepreneurship.

UPSC context

GS Paper III (Science & Technology - Indigenous Technology and Innovation); tests understanding of student-centric innovation policies.

Source
National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC)

The apex national exhibition showcasing top science projects and prototypes selected from state-level competitions under the INSPIRE-MANAK initiative.

UPSC context

GS Paper III (S&T - Innovations); relevant for initiatives promoting youth scientific temperament and experiential learning.

Source
Department of Science and Technology (DST)

A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology responsible for promoting new areas of science and technology and coordinating national scientific research.

UPSC context

GS Paper II/III (Government Policies & Interventions in Science); tests governance and institutional framework for science funding.

Source
National Innovation Foundation (NIF)

An autonomous body under the DST, India, dedicated to supporting grassroots technological innovations and traditional knowledge holders across the country.

UPSC context

GS Paper III (Science & Technology); important for grassroots innovation, indigenous technologies, and intellectual property protection.

Source

ప్రిలిమ్స్ ఉచ్చు

INSPIRE-MANAK scheme is implemented by NCERT or CSIR in collaboration with state education boards.

Aspirants often confuse the implementing partner of INSPIRE-MANAK as CSIR or NCERT, whereas it is jointly managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF).

అనుసంధానమైన స్థిర భావనలు

Science and Technology - Policy & Institutional Framework

What are the key pillars and implementing agencies of the INSPIRE scheme in India?

  • Nodal Agency: Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to attract talent to science.
  • Target Group: Covers students in the age group of 10-32 years across five components, including MANAK for school-level innovations.
  • Core Objective: Aims to foster original scientific thinking and build a million minds database for national progress.

అంతర-అంశ నమూనాలు

  • INSPIRE-MANAK + Start-up India Ecosystem Linkages

    Grassroots youth innovation initiatives like INSPIRE-MANAK directly feed into the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat and Start-up India frameworks by institutionalizing IPR awareness early.

  • Global Innovation Index & National R&D Metrics

    India's jump to 39th rank in the WIPO Global Innovation Index highlights how school-level R&D spending translates into macro innovation metrics.

INSPIRE-MANAK scheme implementation details (DST + NIF) and target age group (Classes 6-12) are favorite multi-statement Prelims trap targets.

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