Atal Innovation Mission 2025 is India’s main effort to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. This mission aims to create new policies and programs that support innovation in various sectors, offer opportunities for different groups to work together, and build a central organization to guide India’s innovation and startup ecosystem. Here, you can find detailed information about Atal Innovation Mission 2025 including its main points, goals, achievements, activities, how to apply, and more.
Overview of Atal Innovation Mission
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was started by NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across India. It was created after studying the country’s needs for future growth in these areas. AIM works to build a strong innovation ecosystem at all levels including schools, colleges, engineering and science institutes, small and medium enterprises, corporates, and NGOs. It also brings together central, state, and sector-level innovation programs under one banner.
AIM has long-term plans to revive science and technology research institutions like CSIR, ICAR, and ICMR, focusing on meeting the social and economic needs of India. It also supports Small Business Innovation Research and Development (AIM-SBIR) to help SMEs, MSMEs, and startups.
Top 10 Government Startup Schemes
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Stand Up India Loan Scheme
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups
Main Highlights of Atal Innovation Mission 2025
| Name | Atal Innovation Mission |
| Started by | Government of India |
| Launched by | NITI Aayog |
| Goal | To develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India |
| Official Website | https://aim.gov.in/index.php |
Main Objectives of Atal Innovation Mission
- Focus on innovation to guide policies and programs across different sectors.
- Provide platforms for collaboration among multiple stakeholders.
- Act as a coordinator managing India’s entire innovation ecosystem.
Achievements of Atal Innovation Mission
Here are some important achievements of AIM so far:
- Established over 350 partnerships to grow India’s innovation ecosystem.
- Worked with NASSCOM to create an AI curriculum for school students.
- More than 2.5 million children benefit from about 5000 Atal Tinkering Labs across 660 districts.
- Launched Mentor India, one of the biggest mentoring networks in the country.
- Over 10,000 mentors with startup experience actively support young innovators and ATLs.
Main Activities under Atal Innovation Mission
- Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): These labs help school students imagine, create, and learn computing, design, electronics, and adaptive learning skills. With equipment like computers, sensors, and 3D printers, ATLs are aimed at students from classes 6 to 10 in government and private schools. AIM provides Rs. 20 lakh per school to set up and maintain the labs over five years.
- Atal New India Challenge (ANIC): ANIC promotes innovation in important sectors like energy, water, housing, health, and hygiene. It supports startups and MSMEs developing products that serve social goals in fields like food processing, mobility, agriculture, and education.
- Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): AICs help startups grow by providing support and funds up to Rs. 10 crores for setting up incubators. These centers cover areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, health, and education, expanding across India and supporting women-led startups as well.
- Atal Community Innovation Centre: This centre focuses on boosting innovation in less-developed and poor areas of the country without startup support.
- Mentor of Change Program: AIM connects students with over 5000 mentors who guide them weekly in ATL and startup incubators. It also works with global organizations from the US, UK, Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
Challenges Faced by Atal Innovation Mission
India is a large country with many languages, cultures, and economic conditions. This diversity creates unique challenges that innovators need to understand well. AIM works to encourage fresh thinking and solutions at local, state, and national levels, in schools, businesses, and internationally.
The Atal Tinkering Challenges motivate students to solve real problems like water, sanitation, housing, agriculture, climate change, transport, and safety with new ideas and inventions. The recent Atal Tinkering Marathon had over 35,000 students and led to more than 6000 new innovations through five national contests.
How to Apply for Atal Innovation Mission
- Online Applications: Schools can apply to start Atal Tinkering Labs through an easy online portal, with a three to four months window for applications.
- Application Screening: Schools are checked for eligibility based on student enrollment, qualified maths and science teachers, infrastructure like computers and internet, science labs, libraries, sports grounds, and attendance.
- Final Evaluation: AIM reviews each school’s commitment to making the ATL a centre of innovation. Selected schools are listed on the AIM website. The number of labs approved depends on funding and approvals. Schools must complete compliance steps to receive grants.