Atal Tinkering Labs (Atal Innovation Mission)

The Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) programme was launched by NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission in 2016 to seed a culture of innovation in Indian schools. Each ATL is a dedicated 1,500 sq ft workspace inside a school where students from Class 6 to 12 can experiment with robotics, electronics, IoT, mechanical tools, 3D printers, and miniature CNC machines.

Unlike a traditional science laboratory, an ATL is unstructured. There is no fixed syllabus, no grading, and no teacher-led demonstration. Students walk in during free periods or after school, pick up a problem they care about (water leakage in the colony, a wheelchair attachment for a sibling, a low-cost air-quality monitor) and build a prototype. The role of the ATL In-Charge Teacher is to facilitate, not instruct.

As of 2026, more than 10,000 ATLs are operational across India, with another 4,000 sanctioned and under setup. The programme has produced more than 12 lakh student innovators and 4 lakh prototypes, several of which have been commercialised through the Atal Incubation Centres.

Each selected school receives a one-time grant of Rs. 12 lakh to set up the lab. This covers equipment (robotics kits, Arduino and Raspberry Pi boards, 3D printer, soldering stations, hand tools, IoT sensors), furniture (workbenches, stools, storage racks), basic safety gear and a computer with internet. AIM publishes an indicative equipment list, but schools have flexibility to substitute items based on local needs.

Over the following five years, the school receives Rs. 2 lakh per year as operational expenditure. This is meant for consumables (filament, components, batteries), maintenance, mentor honoraria, student travel to competitions and small repairs. Schools that fail to upload quarterly reports or fall below activity thresholds risk losing the operational tranche.

AIM does not fund: salaries of regular school staff, construction of new buildings, vehicles, or items already covered under Samagra Shiksha. Any deviation from the approved list above Rs. 25,000 needs prior written approval from the AIM Programme Director.

Any government, government-aided or private unaided school with classes 6-12 can apply. The school must own or have long-term legal possession (minimum 10 years) of at least 1,500 sq ft of contiguous space that can be converted into a tinkering lab. The space must have electricity, ventilation, and basic fire safety.

Applications open on aim.gov.in once or twice a year. The principal submits an online form with the school's UDISE code, photos of the proposed space, a letter of commitment from the management, and the name of the proposed ATL In-Charge Teacher. AIM verifies UDISE data and may conduct a virtual or physical inspection.

Selection follows a state-wise quota and prioritises aspirational districts, North-Eastern states, schools serving Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe majority populations, and schools that demonstrate strong management commitment. Final selection is published on aim.gov.in and the principal receives a sanction letter on the registered email.

Once funds are disbursed, the school has six months to procure equipment, complete civil work and notify AIM that the lab is operational. The ATL In-Charge Teacher must complete a free online certification on the AIM portal before the lab opens. AIM also assigns a regional mentor to the school for hand-holding.

A healthy ATL runs at least three sessions a week: one structured 'tinkering hour' for each grade, one open-access session and one community session where neighbourhood children, parents or out-of-school youth can use the lab. Schools are expected to celebrate ATL Community Day, ATL Marathon and Tinkerpreneur every year.

AIM runs national competitions throughout the year: ATL Marathon (problem-solving), ATL Tinkerpreneur (student-led startups), ATL Space Challenge (with ISRO), ATL App Development Module (with NASSCOM), and ATL AI Module (with NASSCOM and Atal). Participation is voluntary but recommended; winners receive equipment upgrades and incubation support.

The two most reported issues are delayed disbursement of operational funds and absence of an active In-Charge Teacher. If your operational tranche is overdue by more than 90 days, log a ticket on the ATL Helpdesk (aim.gov.in/contact) with the school UDISE code, sanction order number and bank details. Escalation goes to the Programme Director, AIM.

If the In-Charge Teacher leaves or is transferred, the principal must nominate a replacement within 30 days and update the ATL portal. Failure to do so for two consecutive quarters can mark the lab 'inactive', which freezes funding.

Schools that consistently underperform are first issued a show-cause notice and given six months to revive activity. Repeated non-performance can lead to deactivation, with NITI Aayog reclaiming unused equipment for redeployment to a new school in the same district.

• 01Government, government-aided or private unaided school with classes 6-12 (UDISE registered)
• 02Minimum 1,500 sq ft of dedicated, ventilated space with electricity and basic safety provisions
• 03School management resolution committing to host the lab for at least 5 years
• 04Willingness to nominate a full-time ATL In-Charge Teacher and host quarterly community events
• 05Preference for schools in aspirational districts, North-East, SC/ST majority areas, and girls' schools

• §School UDISE code and recognition certificate
• §Photographs of the proposed lab space (interior and exterior)
• §Letter of commitment from the school management/trust
• §Bio-data and consent letter of the proposed ATL In-Charge Teacher
• §Bank account details of the school (name, account number, IFSC, cancelled cheque)
• §Latest audited financial statement (for private schools)

• Space available is less than 1,500 sq ft or shared with another classroom
• UDISE code is inactive, duplicated, or does not match the school name on records
• No In-Charge Teacher nominated, or the nominee is already overloaded with administrative duties
• Bank account details mismatch with the school name on the management resolution
• School has previously received an ATL that was deactivated for non-performance

• Atal Tinkering Labs Handbook 2025, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayoglink ↗
• ATL Operational Guidelines v4.0, NITI Aayoglink ↗
• ATL Impact Assessment Report 2024, NITI Aayog and Asian Development Banklink ↗