About this student scheme
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), established in 2016 under NITI Aayog, is India's flagship initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Key programmes: Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) — Rs 20 lakh per school for STEM problem-solving in 10,000 schools; Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) — Rs 10 crore grant to set up startup incubators; Atal New India Challenges (ANIC) — grant up to Rs 1 crore for technology solutions to national problems; Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACIC) — innovation centres in Tier 2/3 cities. Over 10,000 ATLs operational.
Scholarship snapshot
| Scheme Name | Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2026 — 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs + Startup Support |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2016 |
| Benefit | ATL: Rs 20 lakh per school; AIC: Rs 10 crore startup incubator grant; ANIC: up to Rs 1 crore technology challenge grant |
| Category | Education |
| Last Verified | 5 July 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://aim.gov.in |
अटल इनोवेशन मिशन (AIM) 2016 में NITI Aayog के तहत स्थापित। मुख्य कार्यक्रम: अटल टिंकरिंग लैब्स (ATL) — 10,000 स्कूलों में ₹20 लाख/स्कूल STEM लैब; अटल इनक्यूबेशन सेंटर (AIC) — ₹10 करोड़ ग्रांट; अटल न्यू इंडिया चैलेंज (ANIC) — ₹1 करोड़ तक; अटल कम्युनिटी इनोवेशन सेंटर।
ATL: प्रति स्कूल ₹20 लाख; AIC: ₹10 करोड़ इनक्यूबेटर ग्रांट; ANIC: ₹1 करोड़ तक चैलेंज ग्रांट।
What students receive
ATL: Rs 20 lakh per school; AIC: Rs 10 crore startup incubator grant; ANIC: up to Rs 1 crore technology challenge grant
Which students qualify
- ✓ATL: Government or aided schools (Class 6-12), with required infrastructure and teacher commitment
- ✓AIC: Academic institutions, R&D organizations, or industry bodies with experience in incubation
- ✓ANIC: Indian startups, MSMEs, individuals, research institutions with validated technology solutions
Papers for the application
Applying online, step-by-step
- 1Visit aim.gov.in and select the relevant programme (ATL/AIC/ANIC)
- 2Create an account and fill the detailed application form
- 3ATL: Describe your school's STEM commitment and student count
- 4AIC: Submit 5-year incubation business plan
- 5Selection is competitive — shortlisted applicants are called for presentation
Official Government Portal
aim.gov.in is the only authorised application channel, and the government charges nothing there — never pay anyone to apply on your behalf.
🔗Apply on aim.gov.inReal-Life Examples — Are You Eligible for Atal Innovation Mission?
See which of these applicant profiles is closest to your case:
A government higher-secondary school (Classes 6–12) with a spare room and a science teacher willing to run STEM sessions
Eligible — ATL grants (₹20 lakh per school) target government and aided schools with Classes 6–12 that can commit a dedicated lab room and a committed teacher
A university with prior incubation experience that wants to set up a startup incubator
Eligible — Atal Incubation Centre grants (₹10 crore) go to academic institutions, R&D organisations and industry bodies with demonstrated incubation capability and a 5-year business plan
A private unaided school with only primary classes wanting an ATL
Not eligible — ATLs require Classes 6–12 in a government or government-aided school — primary-only or purely private unaided schools don't fit the ATL criteria
Treat these as guidance; the portal's own eligibility check is authoritative.
Common Mistakes — Why Atal Innovation Mission Applications Get Rejected
- ✗Applying to the wrong programme — ATL is for schools, AIC for incubators, ANIC for startups/MSMEs with technology solutions; each has a separate form on aim.gov.in.
- ✗Submitting a thin proposal — selection is competitive and shortlisted applicants present in person; a generic application without a concrete STEM/incubation plan gets filtered early.
- ✗Missing the Principal's/Director's commitment letter — it is a required document, not a formality.
- ✗Schools treating the ATL as a one-time grant — the ₹20 lakh comes with expectations of ongoing tinkering activity, student projects and participation in events like the ATL Marathon.
Insider Tips for Atal Innovation Mission
- →Schools: mention your student strength and existing STEM activity concretely in the application — ATL selection favours schools that show the lab will actually be used.
- →Push your ATL teams into the annual ATL Marathon — top teams present at NITI Aayog, and a Marathon track record strengthens the school's innovation profile.
- →Startups with a validated tech solution to a national problem should watch ANIC challenge windows — grants go up to ₹1 crore per challenge.
- →Founders in Tier-2/3 cities: look up the nearest Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) — it offers incubation-style support without needing a metro AIC.