Atal Tinkering Labs 2025 India: 10,000 Labs Established, Govt Targets 50,000 More

India has reached a milestone in its innovation journey. Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Rao Inderjit Singh, informed the Lok Sabha that the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has successfully established 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the country since its launch in 2016.

These labs, designed to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving among school students, are now spread across India—from metropolitan cities to remote corners of Ladakh and the Andaman Islands. Alongside this massive rollout, the government has disbursed ₹1,391.84 crore directly to schools under AIM, shaping a nationwide innovation ecosystem.

Maharashtra Leads in ATL Count

Among the states, Maharashtra tops the chart with 1,033 labs, followed by Tamil Nadu (975), Uttar Pradesh (955), Karnataka (798), and Andhra Pradesh (713). Together, these five states account for nearly half of the total ATLs.

Other strong performers include Gujarat (615), Madhya Pradesh (601), Rajasthan (511), and Kerala (369). Smaller regions such as Ladakh (2), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (4), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (10) host fewer labs but mark the government’s effort to ensure inclusivity across India.

Funding: ₹1,391.84 Crore Empowering Young Innovators

AIM follows a direct-to-school funding model instead of state-wise allocations. Since 2016, the scheme has invested ₹1,391.84 crore to equip schools with state-of-the-art tinkering facilities.

• Maharashtra received the highest funding at ₹142.92 crore, closely followed by Uttar Pradesh (₹138.56 crore)and Tamil Nadu (₹138.16 crore).
• Karnataka (₹111.36 crore) and Andhra Pradesh (₹96.04 crore) also secured substantial funds.
• Moderate allocations went to Gujarat (₹87.04 crore), Madhya Pradesh (₹84 crore), and Rajasthan (₹71.2 crore).
• At the other end, Ladakh received ₹0.28 crore, while smaller northeastern states such as Meghalaya (₹1.64 crore), Nagaland (₹3.32 crore), and Sikkim (₹3.32 crore) received modest support.

Rural India at the Heart of Innovation

What makes this achievement remarkable is the government’s strong focus on rural and aspirational regions:

• 57% of ATLs (5,694 labs) are in rural India.
• 1,046 ATLs are located in aspirational districts, while 375 ATLs are situated in aspirational blocks.

This ensures that the benefits of innovation are not restricted to urban centers but reach underdeveloped and underserved communities.

50,000 More ATLs Planned

Looking forward, the Union Budget 2025-26 has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish 50,000 new ATLs in government schools over the next five years. The scheme, to be executed by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, is currently under formulation.

This next phase will significantly expand India’s innovation capacity, ensuring that students from every socio-economic background can access technology, robotics, and STEM-based learning opportunities.

A Legacy of Innovation

Since its inception in 2016, the Atal Innovation Mission has become a cornerstone of India’s STEMeducation revolution. By democratizing access to technology, fostering hands-on learning, and empowering students to think like problem-solvers, ATLs are not just labs—they are launchpads for the next generation of innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs.

As Rao Inderjit Singh emphasized in Parliament, India is steadily building a future-ready ecosystem where innovation thrives beyond urban boundaries, unlocking potential in every classroom and every child.