Yogi Adityanath Govt to foster scientific mindset in children through quizzes, exhibitions

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 27 (ANI): With an aim of promoting curiosity-based education and fostering a scientific mindset among students of upper-primary schools, the Yogi Adityanath government has decided to initiate various activities under the National Invention Campaign in Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement today.
The government also aims to provide opportunities for experimentation, and popularizing science, mathematics, and technology. Accordingly, directions for the implementation of activities have been issued at the district and development block levels by the government, the statement said.
These activities include organising quiz competitions at the block level, science exhibitions at the district level, and ensuring exposure visits for children within and outside the state.
For the execution of these programs, the state government has approved a budget of Rs 17.46 crore in the Annual Action Plan and Budget for 2023-24, which is being released to the districts. It is noteworthy that the "National Invention Campaign" is being conducted by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India. The Yogi government is now advancing this program in Uttar Pradesh, mentioned the statement.
The State Project Director, Vijay Kiran Anand, has issued guidelines and action plans related to the implementation of activities to all Basic Education Officers across districts. According to this, a quiz competition related to science subjects will be organized by the headmaster and teachers of science and mathematics for the children of council upper primary schools, read the statement further.
If the performance of students in any class is not satisfactory, the headmaster will select a maximum of 6 students from more than two classes. 
Furthermore, science and mathematics teachers will be appointed as per the requirement to evaluate the copies of the students. Ten per cent of the approved total budget for the block-level quiz competition will be awarded to those students who participate in the district-level science exhibition.
Additionally, a district-level science exhibition will be conducted, ensuring the participation of a total of 100 students. The children will be inspired to create models on current science-related topics, and the science teachers. Out of the models displayed by the students in the district-level science exhibition, 10 best models will be selected on the basis of excellence by the jury committee of experts and they will be rewarded. For this purpose, a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the DIET Principal at the district level, read the official statement.
Accordingly, the best 10 children participating in the science exhibition to be organised at the district level will be given certificates and a set of science-related books and equipment, souvenirs, a science kit, a microscope and a cash prize. A list of the students obtaining the first and second positions for the state-level exposure visit will be sent to the State Project Office after approval by the Chief Development Officer and District Magistrate.
Under the National Invention Campaign program, one-day exposure visits of 100 children selected per development block will be conducted under the leadership of Block Education Officer. Care will be taken to ensure equal opportunities for boys and girls as well as children from various categories, as mentioned in the UP government’s statement.
Children representing the district-level science exhibition will be included in the exposure visit. 
The exposure visit will cover establishments within the district or nearby districts, such as sugar mills, planetariums, newspaper printing presses, regional science city museums, national botanical research institutes, Institute of Horticultural Technology, industrial units, laboratories, scientific research institutes, etc, read the statement from UP government. (ANI)