New Delhi, April 4 (AHN) NITI Aayog and the Atal Innovation Mission launched the ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana to extend structured mentorship and institutional support to 379 Atal Tinkering Labs, an official statement said on Saturday.

The initiative will enable young innovators to translate ideas into solutions that contribute to India’s development journey and position Telangana as a key node in India’s expanding grassroots innovation ecosystem, the statement from NITI Aayog said.

The initiative will cluster ATLs regionally, connect them with leading local institutions to ensure continuous mentorship, teacher training, and pathways for incubation and startup support.

ATL Sarthi and Mentor India represents a focused effort to deepen the impact of ATLs by moving from access to sustained engagement.

Vardhaman College of Engineering has been onboarded as the nodal institution for Telangana, bringing its expertise in technical education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to support ATL schools and strengthen the local innovation ecosystem.

“The initiative strengthens the foundation of innovation in our schools by creating meaningful linkages between young learners and institutions of excellence. It will empower students to think creatively, solve real-world problems, and contribute to nation-building,” said Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana.

Such initiatives are critical in shaping a generation that is confident, capable, and future-ready and AIM is making it happen, Shukla added.

The ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy initiative is designed to empower students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies, structured problem-solving approaches, and opportunities to scale their innovations.

By strengthening teacher capacity and providing institutional support, the program ensures that innovation becomes a continuous and evolving process within schools, the statement added.

The rollout builds on AIM’s broader national mission of establishing one of the world’s largest innovation ecosystems for students, with over 10,000 ATLs operational across the country.

—AHN

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