Telangana Takes the Lead: ATL Sarthi & Mentor India Academy Revolutionizes School-to-Startup Innovation

In a significant leap towards fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has launched the ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana. This initiative aims to empower over 379 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the state, providing structured mentorship and institutional support to young innovators and positioning Telangana as a key node in India’s expanding grassroots innovation ecosystem.

The launch event was attended by His Excellency Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, and Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal and Mines, along with senior officials from AIM and the Government of Telangana. The initiative is in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which emphasizes the importance of nurturing innovation from the school level to contribute to India’s development journey.

Speaking at the launch, Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, emphasized the significance of initiatives like ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in shaping a generation that is confident, capable, and future-ready. He stated, “Such initiatives are critical in shaping a generation that is confident, capable, and future-ready and Atal Innovation Mission is making it happen.” The ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy represents a focused effort to deepen the impact of ATLs by moving from access to sustained engagement.

The initiative clusters ATLs regionally and connects them with leading local institutions to ensure continuous mentorship, teacher training, and pathways for incubation and startup support. Vardhaman College of Engineering has been onboarded as the nodal institution for the state, bringing its expertise in technical education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to support ATL schools and strengthen the local innovation ecosystem. By strengthening teacher capacity and providing institutional support, the programme ensures that innovation becomes a continuous and evolving process within schools.

Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission Shri Deepak Bagla, highlighted the importance of the ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy initiative, stating, “Guided by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat, ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy are important steps we have taken towards building a culture where innovation begins early and is nurtured consistently. Our focus is on enabling every young innovator to move from ideation to impact.”

The rollout of ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana builds on AIM’s broader national mission of establishing one of the world’s largest innovation ecosystems for students, with over 10,000 ATLs operational across the country. By leveraging local institutional partnerships and fostering collaboration between government, academia, and industry, the initiative ensures that innovation is not only introduced but continuously nurtured and scaled.

The ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy initiative is designed to empower students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies, structured problem-solving approaches, and opportunities to scale their innovations. With strong institutional support and leadership, ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy is expected to enhance innovation outcomes from ATLs, foster regional innovation hubs, and create a robust pipeline of talent that will drive India’s growth, competitiveness, and self-reliance in the years to come.