Atal Tinkering Labs
₹20 lakh per school to build an innovation workspace where students learn design thinking and build prototypes.
What you get
₹20 lakh grant-in-aid per selected school over five years
Nodal ministry
NITI Aayog
Support type
Grant
Best suited for
Ideation
Typical timeline
Applications through the AIM portal
What this scheme actually is
Atal Tinkering Labs are workspaces in schools where students work with tools, electronics and rapid-prototyping equipment. It is a pipeline programme rather than a startup funding scheme — but for edtech companies, equipment suppliers and STEM content businesses, ATL is a large and identifiable market, and for school trusts it is straightforward grant capital.
Implementing agency: Atal Innovation Mission
What the scheme sets out to do
Who can apply
What you get
How to apply, step by step
- 1
For schools: apply on aim.gov.in
Applications are submitted online to the Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog.
- 2
For startups: treat ATL as a market, not a scheme
Thousands of labs need equipment, curriculum, training and content. Getting empanelled as a supplier is the commercial opportunity here.
What we actually do on a ATL mandate
Services this usually needs
No consultant can guarantee a sanction — that decision sits with the evaluating committee, bank or incubator. We commit to an honest eligibility view, an application built to the evaluator’s format, filing inside the window and a documented follow-up cadence. That is stated in every engagement letter we sign.