Press Information Bureau

In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, in collaboration with the University of Kashmir, launched the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme at the Convocation Complex, University of Kashmir today. This landmark initiative marks an impetus for innovation in the Union Territory, with the announcement of 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology, in the presence of Sh. Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of J&K and Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Ms. Sakina Masood (Itoo), Hon’ble Education Minister, UT of J&K, Dr. Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and other dignitaries. The event witnessed participation of senior officials from the University of Kashmir, industry leaders, incubators, teachers, and more than 2000 students.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences; and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said that Jammu & Kashmir holds the promise to be the torchbearer of India's journey to Destination 2047.

Speaking at the launch of the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, at the University of Kashmir, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that as India's economy moves up from rank 4 to rank 3 and further upward, the value addition will come from regions and resources hitherto underexplored, and J&K qualifies on both counts. He added that the region began receiving its due attention only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, and its vast resources of the Himalayas and rivers found new outlets with initiatives like the Aroma Mission, launched by this government.

The Union Minister said that Jammu & Kashmir has the potential to emerge as a frontline contributor to India’s innovation-led growth story in the next two decades.

Congratulating the launch of the ATL Sarthi initiative in Srinagar, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the occasion marked a “dual celebration” — for Kashmir University becoming an instrument of engaging J&K as a mainstream player in India's growth journey, and for AIM extending its innovation network to this peripheral Union Territory.

The Minister announced that under the Frontier Region Programme, 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) will be set up in J&K, forming the largest share of the 2,500 labs sanctioned for frontier regions, with an investment of ₹100 crore. These labs, he said, will give school students exposure to cutting-edge tools in robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence, enabling them to innovate at a young age.

Highlighting the importance of global benchmarks and public-private collaboration, the Minister said, “Unless we devise a method of involving private players, we cannot sustain growth. Initiatives like InSpace in space research and BIRAC in biotechnology have shown how structured collaboration can succeed.”

Addressing the gathering, Sh. Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of J&K, underlined the transformative potential of innovation-driven education for inclusive development.

“The Atal Tinkering Lab is a fitting tribute to former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. These Labs are empowering our young students and providing them with the tools for new discovery and self-development, and imparting skills like problem-solving. By nurturing the curiosity of India’s ‘Amrit Generation,’ ATL labs are laying the foundation for a developed and aspirational nation,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog, Deepal Bagla highlighted the vision of AIM to democratize innovation and ensure last-mile impact. He praised the talent pool of Jammu & Kashmir and reaffirmed AIM’s commitment to building robust linkages between schools, universities, and the startup ecosystem in the region.

“Atal Innovation Mission is committed to taking innovation to the last mile. Jammu & Kashmir, with its immense talent and unique potential, is at the heart of AIM’s Frontier Region Programme. The collaboration between schools, universities, and incubators here will become a model for the rest of the country.”

The launch was marked by the release of a Coffee Table Book showcasing success stories of student innovators from J&K, followed by the signing of the ATL Sarthi partnership between AIM and the University of Kashmir. Dignitaries also interacted with the Top 50 student projects, reflecting the creativity and problem-solving capacity of school students across the UT.

Further, organizations such as Boeing India, Amazon India, Pi Jam Foundation and the Learning Links Foundation, committed new investments to strengthen innovation at the school level.

Additionally, the event featured a Roundtable of Incubators of Jammu and Kashmir, organized by Atal Innovation Mission, which aimed at charting a collaborative roadmap for entrepreneurship in the region. By strengthening institutional linkages, the round table paved the way for joint initiatives and resource sharing to provide more effective support for entrepreneurs. It also discussed the creation of a local chapter of incubators in J&K, fostering cross-institutional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a collective platform to advance the region’s innovation priorities.

The day concluded with a cultural showcase and student-led performances, symbolizing the blend of tradition and innovation that defines Jammu & Kashmir’s unique contribution to the national innovation movement.

 

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MJPS/SR

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