Deepak Bagla, steering NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission, declared Wednesday that India’s AI prowess will flourish through interconnected networks, not fragmented efforts.
AIM is diligently building linkages across the innovation spectrum—startups to mentors, creators to capital, strategies to execution—morphing AI into a nationwide crusade. This framework empowers India to transition from AI consumer to global pacesetter by 2047.
Evidence of this momentum was vivid at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where AIM bridged policy heights with grassroots action. Dominating proceedings was the AI Tinkerpreneur Showcase: 50 standout squads from Atal Tinkering Labs displayed AI breakthroughs in vital domains including medicine, agriculture, climate action, education, disability aid, and civic services.
In partnership with Intel, AI Tinkerpreneur has mobilized 12,000-plus student teams, nurturing AI acumen and business savvy from an early age. Multi-phase competitions crowned the top 50 for summit glory.
The ‘AI by Her’ forum inspired with ATL girls’ tales of resilience, revealing AI innovations born from determination and marking their indelible mark on the ecosystem.
ATLs’ prominence underscores the harmony between schoolyard experiments and India’s grand AI blueprint. A new generation of school innovators is propelling the nation toward AI supremacy and vibrant entrepreneurship.