AUG 12: In an unprecedented celebration of grassroots creativity, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, today organised Mega Tinkering Day—India’s largest school-based innovation event—bringing together over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) from all 35 States and Union Territories.
Held virtually and simultaneously, the event saw the participation of 4,73,350 students from 9,467 ATL-equipped schools. In a live, guided session streamed nationwide, students worked together to design and build a do-it-yourself (DIY) vacuum cleaner using readily available materials. This hands-on activity blended scientific learning with real-time collaboration, connecting young innovators across diverse geographies—from Leh, Ladakh, and Kargil to remote aspirational districts like Virudhunagar, the North East’s Mizoram and Manipur, to Kanniyakumari in the south and Bhuj & Kutch in the west.
Mission Director Deepak Bagla described the event as a milestone for India’s innovation ecosystem, saying, “In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youth drive national transformation, Mega Tinkering Day 2025 is a global first—mobilising lakhs of students to innovate together in real time. The future is being built in our classrooms today.”
Since inception, AIM has set up over 10,000 ATLs, providing students access to 3D printers, robotics kits, IoT devices, and more—tools that encourage problem-solving and creative thinking. This year’s Mega Tinkering Day not only marked the start of a new academic cycle of innovation activities but also served as a rallying point for students, teachers, mentors, higher education institutions, and industry partners to champion collaborative learning.
By demonstrating that large-scale, coordinated innovation is possible within school ecosystems, AIM’s Mega Tinkering Day reaffirms India’s position as a global leader in nurturing young talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit—proving that the next generation of problem-solvers is already shaping the nation’s future.
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