Atal Innovation Mission Scheme
The Atal Innovation Mission scheme, also known as AIM, is one of the most popular and visionary government initiatives started by NITI Aayog to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India.
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Atal Innovation Mission Scheme: The Atal Innovation Mission Scheme (AIM) is the Government of India’s major initiative for stimulating a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the country. Launched by NITI Aayog in 2016, this flagship scheme supports budding innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs, so as to push India towards becoming a global leader in technology and innovation. AIM aims to create a vibrant ecosystem by focusing on key areas: schools, research institutes, universities, MSMEs, and even the private sector.
Atal Innovation Mission Loan Scheme
The AIM's primary purpose is to develop India's innovation ecosystem by nurturing problem-solving skills, promoting scientific temper, and providing entrepreneurs with the resources and mentorship they really need to turn their ideas into successful, sustainable businesses. This approach not only encourage young minds towards innovation but also gives a boost to economic growth, job-creation, and improvement in quality of life.
What is Atal Innovation Mission
Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)
Atal Tinkering Labsare small “do-it-yourself” workspaces established in schools across India for grades 6-12. These labs provide young students opportunity to experiment with latest technologies like IoT, 3D printing, robotics, electronics, and more. ATL's main target is to foster creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial mindset at an early stage.
Atal Incubation Centres (AICs)
Atal Incubation Centres are set up at leading universities, corporates, and institutions. They provide necessary infrastructure, mentoring, and seed funding to startups for helping them become world-class enterprises that will contribute a lot to India's growth story. So far, more than 3,500 startups have already been supported by AICs all over India.
Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs)
These centres focus specially on unserved and underserved regions, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. They bring benefits of innovation to tribal, rural, and disadvantaged communities by providing them ecosystem and infrastructure for entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
Atal New India Challenges (ANIC)
Through this initiative, AIM encourages startups and individuals to solve country’s specific problems by developing innovative products or solutions. Challenges are designed in collaboration with different government ministries and cover sectors like healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, and more.
Mentor India Campaign
Mentor India brings together experienced professionals, corporates, and academic experts, who guide and motivate young innovators all across India's school and college networks as “Mentors of Change”.
Atal Innovation Mission Scheme Benefits
Promote innovative thinking:By encouraging students and youth to dream big, AIM helps create a future workforce that is prepared to meet global challenges.
Empower entrepreneurship:With incubation, funding, and mentoring support, AIM gives new startups and entrepreneurs the push to succeed.
Support for MSMEs:Special focus on SMEs and MSMEs allows them to scale up, innovate, and create newer job opportunities in emerging sectors.
Reduce regional innovation gap:ACICs help ensure even remote regions and weaker sections of society get access to innovation resources.
Skill development:AIM’s efforts in schools, colleges, and local communities boost skills in robotics, coding, digital tech, design thinking, and much more.
Create jobs & social impact:By building a strong network of startups and innovators, AIM is generating new industries, high-quality jobs, and solutions to tougher problems facing the nation.
How Atal Innovation Mission Helps Startups and Schools
Establishing world-class innovation labs:More than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in 2025, impacting 1.1 crore+ school students throughout India.
Incubation support:72 Atal Incubation Centres nurturing over 3,500 startups with technical mentoring, co-working spaces, and funding opportunities.
Mentorship:National Mentor platform connects students and startups with experts to hand-hold their journey from idea to enterprise.
Inclusive growth:Initiatives targeted at regional languages, rural areas, and inclusive communities.
Who Can Apply for Atal Innovation Mission Schemes?
Academic Institutions:University/Colleges, ITIs, AICTE & UGC approved institutions.
Non-Academic:Voluntary organizations, registered societies, NGOs working in the field of Science & Technology.
Startups, MSMEs, Individuals:Eligibility criteria varies based on scheme type (labs, incubation, or community centres).