Agartala, October 13, 2026: Thirteen school students from Tripura are set to showcase their innovative ideas on a national platform after securing places among the top 1,500 innovations selected from more than 10 lakh submissions across the country under the INSPIRE-MANAK initiative.
The young innovators have been selected for the 12th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC), being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Their achievement reflects the growing emphasis on scientific exploration, creativity and problem-solving among school students in Tripura.
The INSPIRE-MANAK programme, jointly implemented by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation-India, encourages students of Classes VI to XII to develop original ideas that can address practical challenges. The initiative aims to identify promising young minds and motivate them to pursue innovation from an early age.
Among the selected students, Krittika Debb of Class IX and Jannath Begum of Class XI from Hariananda English Medium H.S. School in Udaipur have brought recognition to their institution. The school has maintained its participation in the national programme through sustained student engagement and mentorship.
Bidisha Majumder, who received the President’s Award for Teachers in 2025, has played an important role in guiding students towards innovation. Support from Syamal Rudra Pal, an official of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Tripura, has also contributed to the initiative.
Other students named in the selection announcement include Rohit Jamatia, Raktima Dhar, Zinnia Biswas, Ranjana Bal, Hushen Debbarma, Awrdeep Dey, Deep Das, Minmoy Debnath, Riya Debnath and Dibyanka Saha.
The selected students represent institutions from different parts of the state, including Shishu Bihar Higher Secondary School, G-Next Model School in Khowai, Udaipur English Medium Higher Secondary School, Nayapara English Medium Higher Secondary School in North Tripura, Shirish Chandra Para High School in Gomati, Chailengta Government English Medium Higher Secondary School in Dhalai and Netaji Vidyapith English Medium Higher Secondary School in Unakoti.
The national exhibition also brings together officials and experts from the science, technology and education sectors. Among those associated with the inaugural programme were a Joint Secretary of the Union Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, President of the National Innovation Foundation-India and Chairman of the Executive Committee of NAAC, and Dr. Arvind C. Ranade, Director of NIF-India.
INSPIRE-MANAK is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes experiential learning, critical thinking and practical application of knowledge. By encouraging students to develop solutions to real-world problems, the programme seeks to nurture a generation of innovators and future entrepreneurs.
Tripura’s representation at the national exhibition provides an opportunity for its young talents to present their ideas alongside students from across India, while highlighting the importance of strengthening scientific learning and innovation in schools.