Overview of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative of the Indian government, designed to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. In association with the Railway Board, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the AIM has launched the Atal New India Challenge. Under this initiative, the AIM invites potential innovators, start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to devise, create and design market-ready products using cutting-edge technologies in 17 pre-identified focus areas.
Key Initiatives of AIM
- Atal Tinkering Lab
- Atal Incubation Center
- Mentor India
- Atal New India Challenge
- Atal Community Innovation Centre
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE – Atal New India Challenge (ANIC) Program
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| Aspirants can check the following links to align their preparation for UPSC 2022 examination:
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Also read: Atal Tinkering Labs
Pre-identified Focus Areas of AIM
The AIM has identified 17 focus areas. These include:
- Waste management in public spaces and discouraging public littering
- Development of mixing blades for composting
- Decentralized composting techniques
- Improving the quality of compost
- Development of garbage composition devices
- Waste management recycling/reuse strategies
- Affordable desalination/recycling technology
- Instant portable water quality testing
- Safe transport solutions
- Electric mobility
- Smart mobility solutions
- Alternate fuel-based transportation
- Predictive maintenance of rolling stock
- Prevention of rail failure using emerging technologies
- Fog vision system for road and rail
- Climate-smart agriculture
In-depth Look at Atal New India Challenge
The Atal New India Challenge was launched by the National Institution for Transforming India, or NITI Aayog , under the banner of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). This initiative aims to foster innovation and technologies that are relevant to the masses.
The program is spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and four key ministries:
- Ministry of Defence;
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries;
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Role of the ISRO in Atal New India Challenge –
- ISRO is the leading organization to promote innovations and entrepreneurship across the length and breath of our country.
- ISRO has extensively supported MSMEs and has also set up R&D labs across India to promote innovation and research in space science and technology.
- ISRO is planning to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Labs , 3 each in each state and UTs.
- Three thrust areas identified by ISRO:
- Propulsion: Green propellants, electric propulsion, and advanced air-breathing.
- Geo-spatial Information: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crop monitoring, weather forecasting and programme evaluation.
- AI and Robotics: For supporting space exploration and outer space monitoring.
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The Atal New India Challenge Program aligns with the mandate of:
Objectives of Atal New India Challenge
- To collaborate proactively with Ministries and associated industries to catalyze research and innovation, and facilitate innovative solutions to sectoral problems.
- To provide a steady stream of innovative products & solutions where the Central Government Ministries/Departments will become the potential first buyers.
Characteristics of ANIC – Atal New India Challenge
- The initiative aims to promote technopreneurs who have the potential to drive India forward.
- A total of 15 sector-specific challenges will be selected, with three challenges for each ministry.
- A grant-of-aid of up to Rs. 50 lakh for a period of 9 to 12 months has been earmarked for startups to develop a minimum usable prototype.
- Innovators will also be attracted using the Mahatma Gandhi Challenge method.
The initiative focuses on solving problems in core areas that directly impact the quality of life of citizens and generate employment.
- The applicant displaying the capability and intent to manufacture marketable products under the 17 pre-identified focus areas will be granted an award grant of up to 1 crore rupees.
- The winners of the grant will be provided with technical support, go-to-market strategies by leading experts, accelerators and incubators, technical support, mentoring and more.
- In order to facilitate wider deployment, mentoring and support will be provided at various levels of commercialization.
- The challenge is open to all Startups, companies registered under the Companies Act 1956 and the Companies Act 2013 , R&D institutions, academicians, academic institutions and individual innovators.
Recent News Related to Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
- In order to promote innovation across schools, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with IT company CGI India.
- As a part of the SOI signed between AIM, NITI Aayog and CGI, over 100 schools from Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai having ATLs will be adopted by CGI to promote and train students. Under this initiative, CGI volunteers will coach and mentor students at the ATLs to boost their technical literacy. Along with this, the students will also be exposed to immersive learning experiences using hands-on experience via STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) tools.
