Hyderabad/Telangana, April 7, 2026: In a major push to strengthen grassroots innovation and nurture India’s future innovators, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog has launched ATL Sarthi and the Mentor India Academy in Telangana. The initiative aims to provide structured mentorship, institutional support, and pathways to incubation for school‑level innovators across the state.
The programme was inaugurated on 4 April 2026 at Vardhaman College of Engineering, which has been designated as the nodal institution for the state, bringing its expertise in technical education, innovation and entrepreneurship to support schools and strengthen the local innovation ecosystem.
Supporting 379 Atal Tinkering Labs
Under the new framework, 379 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in Telangana will receive sustained mentorship and support. The initiative clusters ATLs into regional groups and connects them with leading local institutions to ensure continuous guidance, teacher training, and access to higher‑order incubation and startup support.
The ATL Sarthi initiative is designed to move beyond mere access to innovation infrastructure, focusing instead on sustained engagement by linking students with mentors, industry professionals and academic experts who can help translate classroom ideas into real‑world solutions and entrepreneurial ventures.
Empowering Students and Teachers
The programme aims to expose students to emerging technologies, structured problem‑solving approaches and the innovation ecosystem from an early age. It also includes teacher capacity building components, ensuring educators are equipped to effectively guide learners through hands‑on projects and innovation challenges.
Officials and Leadership Speak
The launch event was graced by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana, and Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, along with senior officials from AIM and the state government. Governor Shukla highlighted that the initiative will “strengthen the foundation of innovation in our schools by creating meaningful linkages between young learners and institutions of excellence.”
Aligning with National Vision
The rollout of ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy builds on AIM’s broader national mission of fostering one of the world’s largest student innovation ecosystems, with over 10,000 ATLs operational across India. By leveraging partnerships between government, educational institutions and industry, the initiative seeks to ensure that innovation becomes a continuous and evolving process within schools.
This strategic move supports the government’s broader vision of empowering young minds, promoting entrepreneurship at the grassroots level and contributing to India’s long‑term development goals, including the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
