›  What is the contest?
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition is an annual national competition to harness the creative and innovative spirit of children (up to class 12 in school or those up to the age of 17 years out of school). Students are invited to send their original creative technological ideas and innovations for the same.

›  Why the contest?
Creativity among children is almost in-born, every child is creative, degrees may vary, but not the basic manifestation. Then what happens during the growth and maturation? Why should children stop asking basic questions? Why do they agree to do repetitive science projects instead of being original? Why do they learn to live with unsolved social and professional problems? We should not allow our children to live with such problems rather urge them to come up with solutions to these. We want to promote originality, creativity and innovative spirit among our children so that when they become leaders of our society, they ensure an imaginative, inclusive and an innovative future for the country. We want our children to be more sensitive to the problems faced by not just them and their families or neighbours but also other socially disadvantaged sections of the society.

›  What is invited for the contest?
Original creative technological ideas and innovations of the students OR/AND any technological idea/innovation that solves any daily problem be it household, of porters, labourers, or the like. In addition, during their vacations or otherwise, the students are encouraged to look for other people who come out with innovative machines/devices or solve day to day problems using their creativity. Similarly they are also encouraged to document and learn traditional knowledge practices from their elders in their family and neighbourhood. The purpose is to expose them to the rich traditional heritage we have, facilitating its transfer from generation to generation. The students submitting the maximum number of properly documented entries (Innovations/Traditional Knowledge) to the schools (which would forward them to NIF) or directly to NIF would be given appreciation certificates from NIF. For each innovation/traditional knowledge practice spotted and documented by the student, he/she will be credited as being the 'Scout' for that particular innovation/traditional knowledge in records.

›  What is the contest period?
The entries will be received till 31st August 2016. All entries received after this date will be considered for Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE 2017 competition.

›  Can students of other educational boards (national and state) other than CBSE also participate in the competition?
Yes, students from any educational board can participate in Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE competition. Out of school children up to the age of 17 years can also participate.

›  How can the submissions be sent?

The submissions for the contest can be made to us through any of the following means.
1. Email the details at : ignite@nifindia.org
or
2. Submit online at : http://nif.org.in/submitidea.php
or
3. Mail them at the following address (directly/through the Principal) :
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards 2016
National Innovation Foundation - India
Satellite Complex, Premchand Nagar Road,
Jodhpur Tekra, Satellite
Ahmedabad - 380 015. Gujarat.

›  Is there any limit to the number of entries submitted during the competition period?
No. The students are encouraged to submit as many entries as they want.

›  Can there be groups or only individual submissions?
Students can submit entries in group provided each member of the group contributes significantly to the development of the idea/innovation/project. Groups where teachers/parents are included will not be considered.

›  Are there any separate awards for individual or groups?
No

›  Is there any age limit for students?
As the competition is for students up to class 12, the maximum age is expected to be about 17-18 years. Out of school children up to the age of 17 years can also participate.

›  Can only students with science background apply for the competition?
Students from any background viz. arts, commerce etc. can participate in the competition.

›  Is there any particular format for submission of entries?
There is no particular format for submission. However, the following should be clearly mentioned - name, age, class, school name & address, home address & contact number, title of the project/idea/innovation, detailed description, diagrams/sketches/photos if any and a simple declaration that the project has been done by the student himself/herself without guidance from teachers/parents. If required later we may request a declaration from school and/or parents that the project of the student has been unsupervised.

›  Is a working model required along with the submission?
Not at this stage. If required later we would ourselves let the student know and may even facilitate the development of the prototype/ model.

›  Are any photos/videos/sketches of the idea/innovation/project required?
Yes, if available. These would help our experts to properly understand and evaluate the submission.

›  When will the awards be announced and given?
The name of the winners will be announced on October 15, 2016 and award function date will be announced later.

›  How many prizes will be given in the competition?
There is no fixed number of awards. It will depend upon the number of quality entries that we receive and which we can recognize in the function.

›  Is there going to be an exhibition?
Yes, there will be an exhibition of ONLY the awarded projects/ideas/innovations. Working or illustrative models and/or posters in case of ideas would be required for the same.

›  Will NIF support for travel for the exhibition?
NIF will provide to and from train travel support to the student(s) and only one person accompanying the student(s) from the student's home town to Ahmedabad. Local hospitality will be provided by NIF in Ahmedabad. Any other person(s) accompanying the award winner or any other person interested to visit the exhibition would have to bear all their costs (travel/stay/food) themselves.

›  What type of submissions will NOT be considered?
Simple essays, write-ups on problems like population, corruption, global warming, unemployment etc will not be accepted as well as common projects/concepts (from text books/other make yourself books) like hydel power project, rain water harvesting, water level indicators, vermi compost/ vermi wash, letter box alarm and other alarms, using turbines to generate energy, electricity generation through waste batteries/dung/transport/waves or earthquake alarm, etc. and the projects guided by teachers/parents. Teachers and parents are specifically requested not to be suggestive to the children and let them come up with some creative idea of their own. In case, teachers or parents have an interesting idea(s) they can send it to us separately.

›  Who cannot participate in contest?
Any student enrolled in any graduation course and above; any other adult innovator irrespective of educational or occupational background; children of staff in NIF, GIANs or colleagues in the Honey Bee Network and their relatives. Teachers or parents of students are also requested not to send their own ideas and innovations in their children/ students' names. A declaration from parents & teachers mentioning that the idea/innovation is an original thought of the child/student would be required.

›  What kind of support NIF will provide to good ideas/innovations?
All practical and useful ideas/innovations may be given financial and mentoring support. In the deserving cases, patents will be filed in their name at no cost to them. It is also possible that some of the ideas might attract entrepreneurs and these may get licensed for monetary consideration.

›  What happens to those submissions, which are not awarded?
NIF will review all kinds of submissions and send feedback to students in writing. However, since the number of submissions is in many thousands, it may take a while to respond to each one properly.

›  Whom to contact in case of any doubt?

Any queries may be addressed to NIF at
Email : ignite@nifindia.org or
Telephone : +91 79 26732456 / 2095
Fax : +91-79-26731903