500 New Atal Tinkering Labs Announced for Jammu & Kashmir

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme at the University of Kashmir, marking a major step in decentralizing India’s innovation ecosystem. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Education Minister Sakina Masood, and other dignitaries. The launch includes the rollout of 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in Jammu & Kashmir—part of a broader plan to install 2,500 labs in India’s frontier and underrepresented regions.

Empowering Innovation in the Frontier Region

The Frontier Region Programme aims to promote inclusive, bottom-up innovation in tribal, remote, and underserved regions. The 500 new ATLs for J&K will involve an investment of ₹100 crore, making J&K the largest beneficiary of the scheme.

These labs will provide school students with access to,

• 3D printing and prototyping tools
• Robotics and AI kits
• Coding platforms and STEM resources

This initiative will help students develop future-ready skills, create homegrown solutions to local challenges, and become part of India’s broader “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.

ATL Sarthi: A New Model of Support

ATL Sarthi is a new initiative under AIM aimed at,

• Monitoring lab performance
• Providing mentorship support
• Offering teacher training modules
• Enabling peer-to-peer collaboration

The University of Kashmir signed a partnership with AIM to support ATL Sarthi and drive capacity building among ATL teachers across the UT.

Private Sector Joins the Innovation Push

Major companies and foundations pledged to invest in J&K’s school innovation ecosystem, including,

• Boeing India
• Amazon India
• Pi Jam Foundation
• Learning Links Foundation

These partnerships will bring expertise, curriculum content, and funding to help sustain innovation infrastructure in rural and tribal schools.

For Static

• Date of Launch: 25 September 2025
• Organisers: Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog
• Programme Launched: ATL Sarthi & Frontier Region Programme
• Labs Announced for J&K: 500 (₹100 crore investment)
• Focus: Robotics, AI, 3D printing for school students