Muzaffarpur Tops Inspire Award 2025 for Student Innovation

In a major achievement for Bihar’s education ecosystem, Muzaffarpur district has ranked first in the country in the Inspire Award 2025 for submitting the highest number of innovative student ideas. The district outperformed major urban centers like Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Lucknow, with a total of 7,403 student submissions. The rankings were released on 13 September 2025 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, which runs the Inspire Award – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) scheme to promote innovation among students of classes 6 to 10.

Bihar Leads With Two Districts in Top 10

Muzaffarpur’s triumph was accompanied by another notable success from Vaishali, which secured the sixth position with 5,805 ideas submitted. This double achievement highlights the growing emphasis on science education and grassroots innovation in Bihar.

The top five districts in the national list were,

• Muzaffarpur (Bihar) – 7,403 ideas
• Bengaluru Urban (Karnataka) – 7,306
• Bagalkot (Karnataka) – 6,826
• Jaipur (Rajasthan) – 6,311
• Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – 6,182

Other Uttar Pradesh districts like Hardoi, Allahabad, Pratapgarh, and Unnao also made it to the top ten, showing regional momentum in science-led student engagement.

What is the Inspire Award Scheme?

The Inspire Award – MANAK is a flagship initiative by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF). It aims to identify young scientific talent and encourage innovation at the school level.

Key highlights,

• Open to students from classes 6 to 10.
• Focus on original and socially relevant ideas.
• Selected students receive financial support to develop working models.
• Opportunities to participate at district, state, and national levels.

The Secret Behind Muzaffarpur’s Success

This victory was the result of systematic planning and dedicated implementation. Over two months, schools in Muzaffarpur—both government and private—ran special science innovation sessions, led by headmasters and science teachers.

Key administrative support came from,

• District Education Officer (DEO) – who oversaw the program’s execution.
• Nodal officers at block and district levels – who monitored submissions and guided students.
• Daily review mechanisms and follow-ups ensured maximum participation and support.
• This grassroots coordination led to the highest number of entries from any district in India.

Important Takeaways

• Event: Inspire Award – MANAK 2025
• Organiser: Department of Science & Technology, Government of India
• Top Ranking District: Muzaffarpur (Bihar) – 7,403 student ideas
• 2nd Position: Bengaluru Urban – 7,306
• Vaishali (Bihar): Ranked 6th – 5,805 ideas
• Objective: Promote innovation among students of classes 6–10