Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog has opened the application process for the establishment of five hundred new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across Jammu and Kashmir to build a robust innovation ecosystem. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir and the University of Kashmir, which will serve as the nodal mentoring institution. In a statement, NITI Aayog said that the 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs are the key component of Atal Innovation Mission’s broader Frontier Region Program aimed at building a customised and inclusive innovation ecosystem in geographically challenging regions. The application incorporates several modifications, including the inclusion of diverse school categories such as Government, Private, and Aided, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Army Goodwill schools, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The criteria have been relaxed for schools located in remote, border, hilly, and underserved regions. Speaking on the occasion, Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, Deepak Bagla, said the initiative will nurture a new generation of problem-solvers, creators, and nation-builders. Mr Bagla said that these labs will empower students to dream, experiment, and develop solutions for real-world challenges. He also urged schools to participate actively in the application process to become the innovation hubs of Jammu and Kashmir’s innovation ecosystem.
News On AIR | May 20, 2026 7:15 PM
NITI Aayog begins process of establishing 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs across J&K
