How Did Atal Innovation Mission’s Mega Tinkering Day Make History?

New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) celebrated its Mega Tinkering Day, successfully engaging over 473,350 students from across India in a collaborative innovation event that has been officially recognized in both the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records, according to a statement released by NITI Aayog.

Held virtually on August 12, 2025, this groundbreaking event unfolded simultaneously in schools across 35 states and union territories, marking a historic achievement for student participation in a single-day tinkering activity.

A staggering total of 4,73,350 students from 9,467 Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) schools united to devise solutions for Swachh Bharat and constructed their own DIY vacuum cleaners via an online, step-by-step instructional session.

This remarkable achievement is a clear indication of AIM’s commitment to nurturing innovation and scientific thinking among young minds at an unparalleled scale.

Guided by online instructional sessions, students were able to grasp scientific concepts and work together in real-time, irrespective of their locations.

“This initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youthful energy are foundational to India's developmental narrative. Our classrooms are shaping the future of India, and through Atal Tinkering Labs, we are not only imparting technical skills but also fostering the mindset to dream big, think creatively, and tackle real-world problems,” stated Deepak Bagla, Mission Director of AIM.

“Mega Tinkering Day transcends being just a record; it embodies a movement. It reflects the collective enthusiasm of our young innovators, reaching from the most remote areas of the country to its bustling cities, united in learning, creating, and collaborating. No other nation has achieved such a monumental mobilization of innovation within its school ecosystem,” he emphasized.

The event brought together schools from every nook and corner of India, including the frontier regions of Leh, Ladakh, Kargil, and Kashmir, aspirational districts like Virudhunagar, the northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as distant locations such as Kanniyakumari in the south and Bhuj in the west.

The impressive participation level highlights AIM’s capacity to overcome geographical and infrastructural challenges, bringing students together on a shared journey of innovation and discovery.

“This record showcases that when provided with the right tools, mentorship, inspiration, and leadership, India’s youth can reshape the future,” Bagla added.

Since its launch, the Atal Innovation Mission has successfully established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs across India, creating a vast network where students gain hands-on experience with technologies like 3D printing, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and electronics.

These labs are designed to cultivate problem-solving skills, design thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit among students, equipping them to become the innovators of the future.