The District/State-Level Exhibition and Project Competition (2024–25) under the INSPIRE Awards–MANAK scheme was organised by the Science Wing of the Directorate of Education, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, on December 29, 2025, at the auditorium of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sri Vijaya Puram. The event brought together young innovators from across the islands, highlighting locally rooted, need-based scientific ideas with national potential.
A total of 17 student participants took part in the competition, including online participants from Government Senior Secondary School, Malacca, and Government Senior Secondary School, Vijay Nagar. The exhibition formed part of the INSPIRE–MANAK initiative, a flagship programme aimed at encouraging creativity, scientific thinking, and innovation among school students.
Gyan Sheel Dubey, Head of Office, Directorate of Education, attended the programme as the chief guest. Addressing the students, he underlined the importance of the INSPIRE–MANAK Award as a national platform that enables young innovators to take practical, community-focused ideas beyond the local level. He encouraged participants to view innovation as a tool for solving real-life problems and contributing meaningfully to society.
The welcome address was delivered by Ram Pravesh, Deputy Director of Education (Science), who outlined the objectives of the INSPIRE–MANAK Scheme, explaining its registration process and evaluation methodology. He stressed the need for students to pursue innovation with a strong scientific temperament and a clear sense of societal relevance.
Projects showcased during the exhibition were evaluated by a panel comprising Sandhya Tiwari, online evaluator from the National Innovation Foundation, New Delhi; Manu Vasistha, Senior Associate Professor at DBRAIT; Pragya, guest faculty at the Tagore Government College of Education; and Raj Babu, technician from the Department of Science and Technology. The evaluators assessed the projects based on innovation, feasibility, and practical application, and also provided detailed feedback and suggestions to the participants.
In the results announced at the end of the competition, Avanita A of PM SHRI Government Senior Secondary School, Hut Bay, secured the first prize for her project titled “Manual Rope Making Machine.” The second prize was awarded to Barsa Biswas of Government Middle School, Neil 5, for the project “Automatic Indelible Ink Applier.” The third prize went to Shalini of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sita Nagar, Diglipur, for the project “Remote Controlled Tubelight Installation Mechanism.”
Consolation prizes were awarded to Rohit Sikder of Government Secondary School, Madhupur-1, and Nasredh Ekka of Government Senior Secondary School, Subhashgram, in recognition of their innovative ideas and efforts.
The top five projects from the district-level competition have been nominated for the national level under the INSPIRE–MANAK Award Scheme, marking a significant milestone for student innovators from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The prize distribution ceremony was conducted by Ram Pravesh, who presented awards to the winners and participation certificates to all students. The entire programme was coordinated by Chanchal Singha Roy, Science Supervisor, Directorate of Education (Science).
