To cultivate scientific temperament and a spirit of innovation in young minds, the NITI Aayog has decided to set up 500 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) in schools across the country. These laboratories will provide a work space to the young students for shaping their ideas by hands on doing themselves models and learning innovation skills. The vision of the scheme is to ‘Cultivate 1 Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators‘.

The ATLs can be established in schools (Grade VI-XII) managed by Government, local body or private trusts or society and a minimum 25 per cent of them would be set up in schools managed by Government (Central/States). The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) set up at NITI Aayog 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.

To foster inventiveness among students, ATL can conduct different activities ranging from regional and national level competitions, exhibitions, workshops on problem solving, designing and fabrication of products, lecture series, etc.  It will also help young students in understanding the basic concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by providing them an opportunity to work with tools and equipment.