Strengthening INSPIRE MANAK Awards Participation in Tribal Schools under the Yawal Project Office, Jalgaon District, through Administrative, Teacher, and Student Support

The INSPIRE MANAK Award scheme, administered by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation - India, seeks to foster scientific creativity and innovation. Factors such as awareness, teacher support, access to resources, language, relevance to daily life, and institutional support influence student participation. This study examines student participation in the INSPIRE MANAK Award programme among students from tribal schools in Yawal project office, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. This study examines students' understanding of idea generation and the programme's nomination process, as well as the institutional and educational factors shaping participation. It emphasises the roles of teachers, access to learning materials, gender-related opportunities, and the significance of indigenous knowledge and community experiences in scientific innovation. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on interviews with students, teachers, head teachers, and education officials, as well as school observations and programme records. The data inform an analysis of enabling and constraining factors, programme objectives, and available school support. The study aims to advance a more inclusive perspective on school innovation by showing how institutional support and culturally relevant approaches can increase tribal participation in scientific innovation.