In a groundbreaking display of collective innovation, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, on Aug 12 hosted ‘Mega Tinkering Day’, India’s largest-ever school-based tinkering event, bringing together students from over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across all 35 states and union territories.
Held virtually and simultaneously in schools nationwide, the event saw participation of 4,73,350 students from 9467 ATL equipped schools who engaged in a hands-on project to design and build a DIY vacuum cleaner, using everyday materials available in their labs. The activity was guided by a step-by-step instructional session streamed online, enabling students to learn scientific concepts and collaborate in real time no matter where they were.
Schools from Northern most region of India like Leh, Ladakh & Kargil, Kashmir, from Remotest villages of Aspirational Districts like Virudhunagar, North East regions like Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and from southern regions like Kanniyakumari, & westernmost regions of Bhuj & Kutchh. AIM team also joined the action, tinkering side-by-side with students across India and built a vacuum cleaner too.
This ambitious initiative marks a major milestone in India’s education and innovation landscape, showcasing the power of grassroots creativity and collaborative learning at scale.
Speaking on the occasion Mission Director 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 over 10,000 ATLs in schools that offer students access to tools like 3D printers, robotics kits, IoT devices, and more. These labs provide middle- to high-school students with hands-on exposure to modern technologies and foster real-world problem-solving skills.
The Mega Tinkering Day was not just a project-building session; it was a national innovation movement in action. It served as a launchpad for the upcoming academic year’s tinkering activities and a rallying moment for students, teachers, mentors, higher education institutions, and industry partners across India.
