Explanation:

The NITI Aayog has recently announced its decision to establish 1,000 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the initial phase of the project, 187 Atal Tinkering Laboratories will be established by the end of this financial year.

The decision was conveyed at a high-level meeting headed by Chief Secretary to take stock of arrangements for opening Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in various educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir.

From 187 of this year’s target, 31 are being established across government schools of the Union territory, whereas 50 will come up in various educational institutions, including KVs, JNVs, and private schools.

Atal Tinkering Lab

Atal Tinkering Lab is the flagship initiative of Government of India to cultivate an innovative mindset amongst high school students across the country.

The scheme offers grant-in-aid of up to Rs. 20 lakh to selected schools to set up ATL.

The grant has to be used by the institution for a specific purpose within a maximum of five years.

A sum of Rs. 10 lakh is used for the capital expense and the remaining Rs. 10 lakh has to be used for operational and maintenance expenses.

Objectives

To create workspaces that is suitable for young minds to learn innovation skills, develop ideas via hands-on activities, work and learn in a flexible environment.

To empower youth with the 21st-century skills of creativity, innovation, critical thinking, design thinking, social and cross-cultural collaboration, ethical leadership etc.

To help build innovative solutions for India’s unique problems, thereby supporting the nation’s efforts to grow as a knowledge economy.