President interacts with INSPIRE awardees

Over hundred aspiring scientists, chosen from 5.2 lakh students through national competitions, shared their ideas about research and ambitions with President Pranab Mukherjee today.
Mukherjee met the 128 students, from Classes VI to X, at an interactive session organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology at Rashtrapati Bhawan as part of its Innovation in Science Pursuit for the Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme.
Among the students were the top four awardees of first National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) - Shreyansh Jain from Rajasthan, Morson Rongpi from Assam, Owis Ahmed Dar from Jammu & Kashmir and Jaspreet Kaur from Punjab.

Four top awardees of 2nd NLEPC - Alok Kumar Sharma from Bihar, Viraj Dinesh Gapchoop from Maharashtra, Sahil Dwivedi from Punjab and Arun T A from Kerala - also attended the function.
INSPIRE is a national programme implemented by the Ministry to attract talent amongst students to study science and pursue career in research.
"I see the future of India in you," Mukherjee told the aspiring scientists and asserted that science and technology would form the new grammar for development.

"For India to emerge as a leader, our youth must believe in themselves and work hard. You are the next best generation of not only India but also of the world. You need to change India for the best," Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy said.

Under the scheme, two students are selected from each middle and high school of the country during a Five Year Plan period for an INSPIRE Award of Rs 5,000 each for preparing a science project/model.
The students participate in district level, state level and national exhibitions. The best among the lot is then groomed for career in science through scholarships and assured opportunities for research.
Nearly 8.4 lakh INSPIRE awards have been given since the launch of the programme in 2008.