Atal Tinkering Labs: NITI Aayog selects 1,500 schools to promote entrepreneurship

With an aim to promote and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in schools, universities, and industry, NITI Aayog brainchild Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has selected additional 1,500 schools across the country for setting up Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) programme.

"The addition of these schools will give a major boost to realise the vision of the mission... With this announcement, AIM has selected 2,441 schools across India to establish ATLs to date since it began its operations over a year ago," a statement from NITI Aayog said.

#AIMtoInnovate: More than 40% of the ATLs announced in Round 1 are in government-funded public schools! pic.twitter.com/iFlUDhEpG9

— AIM (@AIMtoInnovate) December 26, 2017

Under the government's flagship programme AIM, over 25,000 applications have been received till date from two rounds of applications. It will enhance the coverage of ATLs to over 98% Smart cities and over 93% of the districts, reported TOI.

With a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators’, Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India.

ATLs are play workspaces fitted with state-of-the-art technologies like 3D printers, robotics, sensor technology kits, Internet of things (IoT), miniaturized electronics to stimulate innovation among students of class 6-12th.

The lab helps students find solutions by exploring and experiencing design thinking and innovation, a do-it-yourself approach etc. AIM will enhance the coverage of ATLs to over 98 percent smart cities and 93 percent districts.

Also Read: NITI Aayog is building largest blockchain network to boost economy

At present, there are at least one or more ATLs in 34 states and union territories. AIM will provide grant-in-aid that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.

Lauding the newly selected 1,500 schools, the Mission Director of ATL R. Ramanan said the active engagement of ATLs was extremely important in "the mission to transform India into an innovative country".

Here is the list of 1500 schools selected for Atal Innovation Mission.