The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana, extending structured mentorship and institutional support to 379 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the state.
About ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy
- Designed to deepen the impact of ATLs by moving from mere access to sustained engagement.
- Clusters ATLs regionally and connects them with leading local institutions for continuous mentorship, teacher training, and incubation support.
- 379 ATLs in Telangana will be organised into clusters, each anchored by a nodal institution.
- Vardhaman College of Engineering has been onboarded as the nodal institution for Telangana.
Key Objectives
- Empower students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies and structured problem-solving.
- Strengthen teacher capacity through training and institutional support.
- Create pathways for incubation and startup support for young innovators.
- Position Telangana as a key node in India’s grassroots innovation ecosystem.
Broader Context
- AIM has over 10,000 ATLs operational across India- one of the world’s largest school-level innovation ecosystems.
- The Telangana rollout leverages government-academia-industry collaboration to ensure innovation is continuously nurtured and scaled.
About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
It is a flagship Government of India initiative under NITI Aayog, established in 2016 to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide. It operates, among other programs, 10,000+ Atal Tinkering Labs (schools) and 72+ Atal Incubation Centres (startups), aiming to support innovators from school to industry.
Extension: Union Cabinet approved AIM 2.0 in November 2024, extending the mission until March 31, 2028, with an allocated budget of ₹2,750 crore to further deepen India’s innovation impact.
Key Initiatives of AIM:
- Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL): Fosters curiosity and design mindset in schools (6th-12th grade) using STEM tools like 3D printing, robotics, and IoT.
- Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): Supports startups at universities and institutions to create scalable, sustainable enterprises.
- Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACIC): Promotes innovation in underserved/unserved regions (Tier 2/3 cities, tribal areas).
- Atal New India Challenges & Grand Challenges: Fosters innovative solutions to sector-specific national challenges.
- Mentor India Campaign: A platform for industry professionals to mentor innovators.
Impact and Scope (As of 2025/2026):
- ATLs: Over 10,000 operational labs engaging 1.1 crore+ students.
- AICs: 72+ centers supporting 3,500+ startups, creating 30,000+ jobs.
- Mentors: 6,200+ ‘Mentors of Change’ engaged.