Introduction

With a vision to “Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators”, Atal Innovation Mission is establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India. The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.

ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills. Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). ATL would contain educational and learning "do it yourself" kits and equipment on - science, electronics, robotics, open-source microcontroller boards, sensors and 3D printers and computers. Other desirable facilities include meeting rooms and video conferencing facility.

In order 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. at periodic intervals.

ATL Objectives

1. To create workspaces where young minds can learn innovation skills, sculpt ideas through hands-on activities, work and learn in a flexible environment.
2. To empower our youth with the 21 century skills of creativity, innovation, critical thinking, design thinking, social and cross-cultural collaboration, ethical leadership and so on.
3. To help build innovative solutions for India's unique problems and thereby support India's efforts to grow as a knowledge economy.

Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) have been established at schools across India under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of the NITI Ayog, with a vision to “cultivate one million children in India as neoteric innovators”. The objective of the scheme is to “foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds” and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, etc.

ATL is an activity conducted under the umbrella mission named "Atal Innovation Mission" (AIM). AIM is the Indian Government's flagship program to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.

• AIM establishes ATLs in schools across the country with a vision to 'Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators'.
• The chief objective of establishing ATLs is to promote curiosity, imagination, and creativity in the minds of school-going children.
• Other goals of the scheme include inculcating in children a design mindset, adaptive learning, computational thinking, physical computing, etc.
• The philosophy behind ATLs is that prize awards and incentives are a great start to generate an aggressive wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in school-going children.

Features of Atal Tinkering Labs

ATL's are workspaces where children can realize their ideas through hands-on do-it-yourself mode and also acquire innovation skills.

• They get the chance to comprehend STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) concepts.
• The labs contain educational kits and equipment on electronics, science, robotics, sensors, 3D printers, computers, and open-source microcontroller boards.
• The labs can also have other upgraded facilities, such as video conferencing and meeting rooms.
• There would also be other activities such as national and regional level competitions, problem-solving workshops, exhibitions, designing and fabrication of products, lectures, and so on.
• The financial support for ATLs would be given by the AIM. Each school with an ATL will be given Rs.20 Lakh (includes a one-time Rs.10 Lakh for establishment + operational expenses of Rs.10 Lakh for a maximum of 5 years).