INSPIRE Awards MANAK 2025-26 - Apply Online, Eligibility, Benefits and Prize Money

INSPIRE Awards MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) is actively accepting nominations for the 2025-26 cycle, and school students from classes 6 to 10 across India can get their innovative ideas submitted through their school principals. Each selected student gets ₹10,000 directly in their bank account through DBT, and the best projects go all the way to a national-level exhibition with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.

This scheme is run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in partnership with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Launched on 13 December 2008 by the Prime Minister, INSPIRE Awards MANAK has reached over 6 lakh schools and more than 50 lakh students across 720+ districts of the country. It has also helped in filing 229 patents, with 26 already granted.

INSPIRE Awards MANAK - Scheme Overview

INSPIRE Awards MANAK works in a step-by-step competition format, starting at the school level and going up to the national stage. Schools nominate their best student ideas through the official E-MIAS (E-Management of INSPIRE Awards Scheme) portal. NIF then shortlists the top 1 lakh ideas from across the country. Selected students get the ₹10,000 award and also move forward to District Level, State Level, and finally the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC), organized by DST.

In the 2022-23 cycle alone, the scheme received 7.96 lakh applications from all states and union territories, covering 777 districts. Importantly, 52% of participants were girls, making this one of the most gender-inclusive science promotion schemes in India. At the 11th NLEPC held on September 17-18, 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, 350 selected students from across the country showcased their innovations before a national jury.

Key Information

Benefits

Students who get selected under this scheme receive much more than just a cash award. The support goes through several stages and can even open doors to international opportunities. Here is what you can get:

• ₹10,000 Cash Award: Every shortlisted student gets ₹10,000 sent directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT. This money is meant to help build a working prototype of their idea.
• District and State Level Exhibitions: Selected students present their projects at DLEPC (District Level Exhibition and Project Competition). Top 10,000 ideas move to SLEPC (State Level Exhibition and Project Competition), and from there, the best 1,000 advance to the national stage.
• National Level Awards (NLEPC): At the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition, 60 top projects receive National Awards. The top 10 projects win ₹1,00,000 each (First Prize), the next 20 win ₹50,000 each (Second Prize), and the following 30 win ₹25,000 each (Third Prize), along with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.
• Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE): All top 60 national winners are invited to display their projects at the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Japan Visit: Every year, selected top performers are sent to Japan under the Sakura Exchange Program by DST, giving them direct international science exposure.
• Patent and Commercialization Support: Projects that show real commercial or societal potential get professional guidance for patent filing through NIF or TIFAC and further support for product development.

Eligibility

Both students and schools need to meet specific conditions to take part in this scheme.

For Students: You must be between 10 and 15 years of age and studying in class 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 in any recognized school in India. Students cannot apply individually; nominations must come through the school's principal or headmaster.

For Schools: All schools across India are eligible, regardless of board affiliation. This includes Central Government schools, State Government schools, local body schools, NGO-run schools, and private schools (both aided and unaided). Each school can nominate up to 5 best ideas per year through the E-MIAS portal.

Ideas and Projects: The submitted ideas must be original, creative, and rooted in science and technology. They should solve a real problem for society, whether related to households, the environment, agriculture, health, or labour. Ideas that are directly copied from textbooks or based on very common concepts like basic electricity generation from dung or turbines will not be accepted. Ideas can be submitted in any recognized Indian language.

How to Apply Online - School Registration Process

Students cannot apply directly. The school principal or headmaster registers on behalf of the school through the E-MIAS portal. Here is the step-by-step process:

STEP 1 - Go to the official portal at inspireawards-dst.gov.in. On the homepage, click on the "Authorised Login" button which takes you to the school registration and login section. Make sure to use the school's permanent email ID, not a personal one, since it will be used for all future communication even if school authorities change.

STEP 2 - If your school is not yet registered, fill in the school registration form. Enter the 11-digit U-DISE code (school code) and provide all mandatory details including the school address, board affiliation, and contact information of the authorized officer. Submit the form to complete the registration request.

STEP 3 - After submitting the registration, you will get an application number. The district education authority will review the details and issue a unique User ID and Password to the school. This may take a few working days, so register early before the nomination deadline.

STEP 4 - Log in to the portal using your school's User ID and Password. Go to the "Student Nomination" section. Select the student whose idea you want to nominate, fill in all required student details including Aadhaar-linked bank account information, and upload the required documents including the project synopsis.

STEP 5 - Review everything carefully and click Submit. Always download and save the acknowledgment receipt generated after successful submission. This receipt is needed for future reference and tracking.

For any technical help, call 02764-261139 or 096384 18605 between 09:30 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays, or email inspire@nifindia.org.

Annual Timeline

The scheme follows a fixed calendar each year. Schools should plan their internal idea competitions well before the nomination deadline. Here is the typical yearly schedule:

• By 27th March: DST sends letters to all State Education Secretaries to collect fresh nominations.
• By 31st July: Schools submit student nominations with idea or concept details on the E-MIAS portal.
• By 15th August: NIF and DST shortlist the top 1 lakh ideas from across the country.
• By 15th September: ₹10,000 award is sent to selected students' accounts via DBT. Funds are also released to states for DLEPC and SLEPC.
• By 1st November: Mentorship workshops and prototype development funds are released to state-level awardees.
• 1st week of December: National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) is held.
• Month of March: Top 60 national winners participate in the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Documents Required

Schools and students need to keep the following documents ready before starting the nomination on the portal:

• School U-DISE Code: The 11-digit unique school identification code, required at the time of school registration.
• Student photograph: A scanned passport-size photograph of the nominated student (max 2 MB).
• Project synopsis: A short write-up of the idea (PDF, JPG, or Word format, max 2 MB, up to 300 words) explaining the innovation and how it addresses a societal problem.
• Student's Aadhaar-linked bank account details: Required for the ₹10,000 DBT transfer. The account should be in the student's name and linked to Aadhaar.
• Justification note: A brief 100-word explanation from the school on why this particular student has been selected.
• Optional multimedia: Photos, audio clips, or short videos related to the project idea can be uploaded to support the nomination.

References

You can access all official documents, guidelines, and application resources from the links below. These are direct links from the DST and NIF official portals:

View E-MIAS User Manual | Browse Official Guidelines | Check Payment Status via UMANG | View NLEPC Winners List

Students and parents can also explore the Central Government Schemes List for Students on SarkariYojana.com for other education-related government opportunities.

FAQ's

What is INSPIRE Awards MANAK?

It is a national science innovation scheme by DST and NIF that encourages students of classes 6 to 10 to submit original ideas that solve real-world problems. Selected students get ₹10,000 via DBT and can win national-level medals and prizes up to ₹1 lakh.

Can a student apply directly to INSPIRE Awards MANAK?

No. Students cannot apply on their own. The school's principal or headmaster must register on the E-MIAS portal and nominate students on their behalf.

How many nominations can one school submit?

Each school can nominate up to 5 best original ideas per year through the E-MIAS portal.

What is the award amount given to selected students?

Each shortlisted student gets ₹10,000 sent directly to their Aadhaar-linked bank account via the DBT method. This is meant to help build a working model of their idea.

What happens after a student gets the ₹10,000 award?

The student's project moves to the district-level exhibition (DLEPC). Top projects then go to the state level (SLEPC), and the best 1,000 reach the national level (NLEPC) where cash prizes of ₹1 lakh, ₹50,000, and ₹25,000 are given along with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.

Is there any fee for participating in this scheme?

No, participation is completely free of charge for both schools and students. There is no registration fee or nomination fee at any stage.

What types of ideas are accepted?

Original science and technology ideas that solve a real societal problem are accepted. Ideas based on common textbook concepts or already widely used technologies will not be considered. Ideas can be in any Indian language.

Are private schools eligible?

Yes, all private schools (both aided and unaided) across India are eligible, along with government, NGO-run, and local body schools. Any recognized school affiliated with any national or state board can participate.

Where can I get help if there is a problem with the portal?

You can call 02764-261139 or 096384 18605 between 09:30 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays, or email inspire@nifindia.org for technical help.

How are ideas shortlisted by NIF?

NIF evaluates ideas based on five main factors: novelty of the idea, how useful it is for society, environmental impact, ease of use, and how much better it is compared to existing solutions.