Uttar Pradesh has once again emerged as a frontrunner in the field of school education and innovation by securing the top position in India under the Inspire Award MANAK scheme, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The state achieved an unprecedented milestone by recording 2,80,747 nominations. This is the highest ever since the inception of the scheme.
This achievement marks a major jump from last year’s 2.1 lakh nominations. By adding 70,000 more in just one year, Uttar Pradesh has established a new milestone in promoting scientific curiosity, creativity, and innovation among school students.
Year-on-Year Progress: A consistent growth story
Uttar Pradesh’s performance under the scheme highlights a story of steady and strategic growth.
In 2020-21, the state had just 25,166 nominations.
In 2021-22, this rose to 27,108.
In 2022-23, the number jumped to 31,932.
In 2023-24, UP achieved a big breakthrough with 50,329 nominations.
Finally, in 2024-25, the state touched a record 2.8 lakh nominations, becoming the highest contributor in the country.
This steady growth shows effective policy measures, stronger awareness campaigns, and the joint efforts of teachers and education officials to engage more students in innovation-driven learning.
What makes the achievement even more significant is the inclusivity of participation. Nominations were not limited to schools under the Secondary Education Department but also came from Junior High Schools under the Basic Education Council, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, Composite Schools, and Sanskrit schools. This ensured that students from rural and semi-urban areas also got an opportunity to present their original ideas and innovations, taking the initiative beyond elite institutions and reaching the grassroots.
Another striking highlight is Uttar Pradesh’s dominance in the district-wise performance across the country. Out of the 50 districts with the highest nominations, 22 are from UP alone. Pratapgarh led the tally with 7,085 nominations, followed closely by Prayagraj with 6,929, Lucknow with 6,721, Hardoi with 6,689, and Jaunpur with 5,930. Other districts such as Lakhimpur Kheri, Unnao, Azamgarh, Fatehpur, Bijnor, Sitapur, Bareilly, Gonda, Agra, Aligarh, Barabanki, Basti, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur Nagar, Moradabad, and Mathura also contributed significantly, reflecting how innovation is spreading beyond urban centres to smaller towns and villages.
On the national stage, Uttar Pradesh left other states far behind. Rajasthan secured the second spot with 1,41,142 nominations, almost half of UP’s count, while Karnataka stood third with 1,01,656 nominations, lagging behind UP by nearly 1.8 lakh. Other states, including Bihar (87,101), Chhattisgarh (78,836), Odisha (59,408), Madhya Pradesh (55,247), Tamil Nadu (46,404), Andhra Pradesh (46,285), and Jharkhand (45,336), followed in the rankings. The gap between Uttar Pradesh and its closest competitors clearly shows the scale of participation that the state has managed to mobilise.
The Inspire Award MANAK scheme, short for “Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge,” is aimed at identifying and nurturing original ideas among students from Classes 6 to 12. Selected students not only get recognition but also receive mentorship and financial support to develop prototypes from their ideas. The overwhelming participation from Uttar Pradesh demonstrates the growing culture of scientific curiosity and creative problem-solving among the state’s youth, which is crucial for building a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Education department officials credit this success to the collective efforts of teachers, officials, employees, and the larger education community, who worked at the ground level to raise awareness and motivate students. According to Vivek Nautiyal, Joint Director of Secondary Education, the achievement reflects the state’s commitment towards promoting creativity and scientific temper. With all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh registering higher participation than last year, the results stand as a testimony to the effectiveness of coordinated efforts in the education sector.
