Answer: Uttar Pradesh
Notes: Uttar Pradesh (UP) topped India in the INSPIRE Award – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) scheme with 2,80,747 nominations in 2025. This is an increase of 70,000 nominations from 2,10,000 in 2024 and the highest since the scheme began. The scheme is run by Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) to encourage innovation among students of classes 6 to 12. Among the top 50 districts nationally, 22 districts are from UP, including Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Hardoi, Jaunpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, and others. UP surpassed Rajasthan (1,41,142) and Karnataka (1,01,656), leading by 1.39 lakh and 1.79 lakh nominations, respectively.
