Atal Innovation Mission selects 1,500 more schools for ATLs

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The National Institution for Transforming India ( NITI) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Government of India’s flagship programme to promote innovation and entrepreneurship nationwide in schools, universities and industry, has selected additional 1,500 Schools for establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

The addition of these schools will give a major boost to realize the vision of the mission to ‘Cultivate One Million children in India as the Innovators of tomorrow’. With this announcement of the new Atal Tinkering Labs, AIM, has selected 2,441 Schools across India to establish ATLs till date since it began its operations over a year ago.

ATLs are innovation play workspaces for students from Grade VI to Grade XII stimulating innovations combining science & technology. These open-ended innovation workspaces equipped with state of the art technologies like 3D printers, Robotics, Sensor Technology Kits, Internet of Things (IOT), miniaturised Electronics etc enable the students to learn and solve local community problems using emerging technologies. Students are encouraged to explore and experience Design Thinking and Innovation, using a do-it-yourself approach, and develop innovative solutions to India’s social, community or economic problems

The young students who have already got exposure to creative technology platforms to nurture their curiosity, creativity and imagination from ATLs in their schools, have already started designing prototype solutions and started creative projects such as better irrigation management, waste management, and sensor based solutions using IOT devices and Robotics in their Labs. The labs are designed to spur the spark of creativity and go beyond regular curriculum and text book learning. The labs will also enable students explore skills of future such as design and computational thinking, adaptive learning and artificial intelligence.

The 2,441 schools have been selected from over 25,000+ applications till date from two round of applications. It will enhance the coverage of ATLs to over 98% Smart cities, 93%+ of the districts (655+ districts). Its spread is evident from the fact that there will now be at least one or more ATLs in 34 States and Union Territories across the country, according to a PIB release.