Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh presents ’INSPIRE’ awards to 60 Start-Ups

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has presented INSPIRE awards to 60 Start-Ups and financial support to over 53 thousand students.

The award is instituted by the Department of Science and Technology and these innovators will be extended complete incubation support for their entrepreneurship journey.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr  Singh said, during the year 2020-21, while the country was battling with the severe impact of COVID-19, the annual INSPIRE Awards - MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) competition attracted an unprecedented 6.53 Lakh ideas and innovations from all States.

He said,



the scheme touched an unparalleled level of inclusivity by representing ideas and innovations of 702 districts of the country.

Dr Singh informed that out of 6.53 lakh students, a total of 53 thousand and 21 students were identified for financial support of 10 thousand rupees each so that they could develop prototypes of the ideas which they submitted for the scheme.

As a next step, they competed at respective District Level Exhibition and Project Competition and State Level Exhibition and Project Competition and now a total of 556 students have made their way to 9th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition.