Guidelines for setting up of Tinkering Laboratories
under Atal Innovation Mission
‘Atal Tinkering Laboratories’

1) MAIN PLOT/ BACKGROUND FOR SETTLE ATL's

The Government of India has setup the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at NITI Aayog. Realising the need to create scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation among young minds, AIM proposes to support establishment of a network of Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in India. ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode and learn / develop innovation skills. The vision is to ‘Cultivate 1 Million children in India as Neoteric 1 Innovators’.

2) OBJECTIVE FOR ATL's

The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mind-set, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, rapid calculations, measurements etc. Young children will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand what, how and why aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

3) Features of Scheme

ATATLs can be established in schools (minimum Grade VI – X) managed by State/ Central Government, Local body (Municipality / Nagar Nigam), Private trusts/society or Tribal/Social welfare department etc.

4) Funding Support

The applicant schools would be provided financial support in the form of Grant-in-aid for a maximum period of 5 years.

Key aspects of funding ATLs in schools:

• One time establishment charge of up to Rs. 10.00 lakh would be provided for each ATL in the first year for instruments, prototyping equipment like do-it-yourself kits, 3D printer, electronic tools, etc. An illustrative list of equipment and kits is at Annexure V. A checklist of mandatory equipment and other infrastructure would be communicated to selected schools. The schools will procure equipment and kits at their end, however the AIM will provide support for the same.
• An amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh would be provided for each ATL over a maximum period of 5 years for operation of ATLs, maintenance of equipment, purchase of consumables, organising popular science lecture series, innovation events and other scientific activities, competitions and payment of honorariums to the faculty and mentors involved.

Contributions from philanthropic and other institutions and under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would be encouraged for financing / upgrading ATLs. Local Industry / Institution will be encouraged to support the initiative by creating subject/domain specific exhibits/tinkering laboratory facilities.

6) Infrastructure

The applicant school would have to provide at least 1,500 Sq. Ft. of built up space. Applicant schools from hilly / Himalayan and island states, UTs would have to provide atleast 1,000 Sq. Ft. of built up space. The existing facilities for meeting rooms and video conferencing among others can be used to supplement the laboratory space.