The Hon’ble Prime Minister had launched the Atal Innovation Mission with the objective of inculcating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across India. Today, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, is rated amongst the world’s largest grassroots innovation movements and has achieved a historic milestone as its flagship initiative, Mega Tinkering Day 2025, entered the prestigious India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. This is a new record for the maximum number of students participating in a tinkering activity in a single day. On August 12, 2025, 4,73,350 students from 9,467 Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) schools came together to design a solution for Swachh Bharat and built their own DIY vacuum cleaners through a live, step-by-step instructional session streamed online.

The record was officially confirmed and formally announced on September 15, 2025, by both the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. This recognition stands as a testament to AIM’s mission of fostering innovation and scientific temperament among India’s youth at an unprecedented scale.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, said:

“This initiative is in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youth power form the bedrock of India’s growth story. The future of India is being built in our classrooms, and through Atal Tinkering Labs, we are equipping students not only with technical skills but also with the mindset to dream big, think differently, and solve real-world challenges.”

He added that “Mega Tinkering Day is not just a record—it is a movement. It represents the collective energy of our young innovators who, from the remotest corners of the country to its bustling cities, came together to learn, create, and collaborate. No other country in the world has mobilised innovation at this scale within its school ecosystem. This record demonstrates that when you provide the right tools, mentorship, inspiration and leadership, India’s children are capable of reshaping the world of tomorrow.”

Mega Tinkering Day 2025 reached schools in every corner of India, including frontier regions of Leh, Ladakh, Kargil, and Kashmir, aspirational districts such as Virudhunagar, the North-Eastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, and distant geographies like Kanniyakumari in the South and Bhuj in the West. The scale of participation underscored AIM’s ability to transcend geographic and infrastructural barriers, uniting students in a shared journey of discovery and innovation.

Since its inception, Atal Innovation Mission has established over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs across India, creating a nation-wide network of spaces where students get hands-on exposure to technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and electronics. These labs are designed to nurture problem-solving, design thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit among students, preparing them to be the innovators of tomorrow.

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MJPS/SR