New Delhi: In a major step towards fostering hands-on learning and creativity in schools, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, hosted ‘Mega Tinkering Day’, the country’s largest-ever tinkering event, uniting students from more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across all 35 states and union territories.
The event, held virtually and simultaneously in schools nationwide, witnessed the participation of 4,73,350 students from 9,467 ATL-equipped schools. Over the course of the day, students collaborated to design and build a DIY vacuum cleaner using everyday materials available in their labs. A step-by-step instructional session, streamed online, allowed participants to follow along and innovate in real time, regardless of location.
Participation came from across India, including Leh, Ladakh, Kargil, Kashmir, aspirational districts such as Virudhunagar, the North East regions of Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, the southernmost district of Kanniyakumari, and the westernmost areas of Bhuj and Kutchh. Members of the AIM team joined students across the country in building the vacuum cleaners, emphasising the spirit of shared learning.
Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Deepak Bagla, said, “In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youth are one of the driving forces of national transformation, Mega Tinkering Day 2025 is a milestone demonstration of the power of grassroots innovation. In this live event, over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs came together in one synchronized hour of creativity, with lakhs of students across India building, learning, and innovating as one. No other country in the world has mobilized innovation at this scale inside its school ecosystem. This is India’s moment to lead to show how young minds, when empowered, can shape solutions not just for our nation, but for the world. The future is being built in our classrooms today.”
Since its inception, AIM has established more than 10,000 ATLs across the country, giving students access to tools such as 3D printers, robotics kits, IoT devices, and other modern technologies. These labs aim to develop problem-solving abilities and encourage innovation from middle school onwards.
The Mega Tinkering Day was more than a single-day activity, acting as the launchpad for the upcoming academic year’s tinkering initiatives. It also brought together teachers, mentors, higher education institutions, and industry partners, reinforcing AIM’s mission to develop a generation of young innovators capable of shaping India’s future.
BI Bureau
