Union Budget 2025: Atal Tinkering Labs To Be Set Up In 50K Government Schools 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Union Budget 2025 speech announced that 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in government schools over the next five years.

“This will cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation and foster a scientific temper among young minds,” the finance minister said.

The labs are designed to encourage students to be innovative and develop entrepreneurial skills.

In 2020, AIM also collaborated with NASSCOM to launch an AI-based educational module for school students. The programme was launched to reach about 2.5 Mn students associated with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), which aims to impart technical knowledge and skills to the students.

The ATL is a flagship initiative of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in schools.

The core of the initiative is to nurture young minds and promote a culture of innovation by allowing students to experiment, and prototype their ideas. By providing an environment where creativity is encouraged, ATLs help students develop essential skills in problem-solving, teamwork and critical thinking, which are vital in today’s rapidly evolving world. 

Additionally, the programme aims to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, allowing students to see how the concepts they study in classrooms can be translated into tangible inventions and technologies. 

Meanwhile, in her Budget speech, Sitharaman also announced the government’s plans to extend the period of incorporation by five years to allow benefits to startups incorporated before April 1, 2030.