West Champaran: A school student from Bihar’s West Champaran district has been selected to travel to Japan to study and showcase an innovative road safety model designed to prevent motorcycles from starting unless the rider is wearing a helmet.
Payal Kumari, currently a class 11 student at New Era Public School in Patna, developed the concept titled “No Helmet, No Start Bike” as part of a science innovation project. The model aims to strengthen road safety by linking the ignition system of a motorcycle to helmet usage, ensuring that the vehicle cannot start unless the rider is properly protected.
Payal submitted the proposal during the 2022–23 academic session under the INSPIRE Award–MANAK scheme, a national programme that encourages scientific curiosity and innovation among school students. Her project was later selected for the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC), recognising it among the most promising student innovations in the country.
At the time she submitted the project, Payal was studying in class 10 at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Vrindavan. She is the daughter of Ramesh Prasad Rauniyar, a resident of Sikta in West Champaran. Her selection has been welcomed locally as an example of how rural students can contribute to practical solutions for public safety.
Gargi Kumari, District Programme Officer for Samagra Shiksha, said the INSPIRE Award–MANAK initiative plays an important role in encouraging students to pursue careers in science, research and innovation. According to her, such programmes provide young learners with opportunities to turn ideas into practical technological solutions.
As part of the programme, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) runs the Sakura Science High School Program (SSHP), which invites promising young innovators from around the world. Under this initiative, 56 high school students from India have been invited to visit Japan from June 26 to July 4 2026.
During the visit, participants will tour Japanese universities, research laboratories and technology companies, gaining exposure to advanced research environments and international innovation networks. The programme aims to encourage collaboration and inspire students to pursue future careers in science and technology.
