Context: Recently, the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that ISRO will be adopting 100 Atal Tinkering Labs across the country.

Significance of adoption of Atal Tinkering Labs by ISRO

• The purpose of ISRO behind adopting Atal Tinkering Labs is to promote education in the field of STEM, Space education and space technology related Innovations for school students.
• It will provide an opportunity for the young budding space researchers and astronauts to learn from the best minds of our country and become living inspirations for their school, families and local communities.
• The involvement of ISRO shall help promoting innovation and the spirit of experiential learning among the school kids compared to traditional learning.

What is an Atal Tinkering Lab?

• It is an approach of Central government of India to create an environment of scientific temperament, innovation, creativity amongst Indian Students.
• Its vision is to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators'.
• It is established in schools across India under Atal Innovation Mission.
• Its aim is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
• AIM will provide grant-in-aid of Rs. 20 Lakh to each school that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
• The Schools (minimum Grade VI - X) managed by Government, local body or private trusts/society are eligible to set up ATL.

Additional Information
Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC

• Atal Innovation Mission had earlier collaborated with ISRO for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC Initiative along with four other ministries to spur applied research and innovation in Indian MSMEs and startups.
• The programme will be driven by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It will support deserving applied research–based innovations by providing funding support of up to Rs 50 lakh for speedy development of the proposed technology.
• Its objective is to proactively collaborate with Ministries and the associated industries to catalyse research, innovation and facilitate innovative solutions to sectoral problems.
• It aims to support MSMEs and start-ups for making India innovative, resilient, tech-driven, and research and development (R&D)-oriented.