Context: Recently, the NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has launched the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenges (ANIC) Initiative.
Key Points
- Objective: To proactively collaborate with Ministries and the associated industries to catalyse research, innovation and facilitate innovative solutions to sectoral problems.
- The objective is also to provide a steady stream of innovative products & solutions where the Central Government Ministries/Departments will become the potential first buyers.
Administration
- The initiative will be carried under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM - an initiative by the NITI Aayog).
The programme will be driven by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and four ministries:
- Ministry of Defence;
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries;
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Features
- The initiative will help promote techno-preneurs who deserve to be supported because of their immense potential of taking India forward.
- A total of 15 sector-specific challenges will be selected where three challenges are kept for each ministry.
- A grant-of-aid of up Rs. 50 lakh for a period of 9 to 12 months have been earmarked for startups to develop a minimum usable prototype.
- Innovators would also be attracted by using the Mahatma Gandhi Challenge method.
- On the 150th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘the Gandhian Challenge’ was launched.
- It provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi’s principles.
Broad categories in the challenge: Art & Innovation and Science, Technology & Innovation.
The Program is in line with the mandate of:
- “Make in India”
- “Startup India”
- “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”
Role of the Indian Space Research Organisation
- ISRO is the leading organization to promote innovations and entrepreneurship across the length and breath of our country.
- ISRO has extensively supported MSMEs and has also set up R&D labs across India to promote innovation and research in space science and technology.
- ISRO is planning to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs, 3 each in each state and UTs.
Three thrust areas identified by ISRO
- Propulsion: Green propellants, electric propulsion, and advanced air-breathing.
- Geo-spatial Information: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crop monitoring, weather forecasting and programme evaluation.
- AI and Robotics: For supporting space exploration and outer space monitoring.
Importance of MSMEs for Indian Economy
- They are considered as the engine of growth in an economy.
- Employment: It is the second largest employment generating sector after agriculture. It provides employment to around 120 million persons in India.
- Contribution to GDP: With around 36.1 million units throughout the geographical expanse of the country, MSMEs contribute around 6.11% of the manufacturing GDP and 24.63% of the GDP from service activities.
- MSME ministry has set a target to up its contribution to GDP to 50% by 2025 as India becomes a $5 trillion economy.
- Exports: It contributes around 45% of the overall exports from India.
- Inclusive growth: MSMEs promote inclusive growth by providing employment opportunities in rural areas especially to people belonging to weaker sections of the society.
- Financial inclusion: Small industries and retail businesses in tier-II and tier-III cities create opportunities for people to use banking services and products.
- Promote innovation: It provides opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to build creative products boosting business competition and fuels growth.