Lok Sabha Question No. 1621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Atal Tinkering Labs
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Hemant Tukaram Godse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1621 TO BE ANSWERED 08.12.2021

## ATAL TINKERING LABS

## 1621. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA: SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Atal  Tinkering  Labs  (ATLs)  were  opened  across  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether Atal tinkering labs initiative has been successful in achieving its aims and mandate in terms  of  number  of  labs  set  up,  number  of  students  engaged  in  STEM  subjects  and  results produced;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether it has been observed at many places that the maintenance of these labs is not being done after  its  opening  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  Atal  Tinkering  Labs opened and functional, State-wise; and
- (e) whether  apart  from  having  transparency  in  awarding  tender  in  the  institutions  for  opening tinkering labs, there is a provision of five years maintenance by the tenderer and if so, the details of audit and its maintenance by Government and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) Yes  Sir.  The  state-wise  list  of  ATL  schools  funded  as  on  November,  2021  is  placed  as Annexure-A.
- (b) Yes Sir.
- (c) The  Government  of  India  is encouraging  the schools to provide exposure  of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education to students so that they can be exposed with futuristic technology platforms. The Government has set up the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) at NITI Aayog with the objective to foster curiosity and innovation among young minds. AIM is establishing Atal Tinkering Labs across the country for students between grade 6th  to  12th,  equipped  with  latest  emerging  technologies  such  as  electronics,  IoT  (Internet  of Things),  3D  printing,  Robotics,  etc.  AIM  is  collaborating  with  relevant  stakeholders  and  has

created  relevant  learning  modules  around  the  above  topics,  which  can  be  leveraged  by  the existing school ecosystem.

The target is to establish 10,000 ATLs across India. The current update as on date are as follows:

-  To date, 9,300+ schools have received the ATL sanction and grant-in-aid.
-  More than 60% schools are Government (State, Central, Tribal, etc) and/or Government Aided schools.
-  Currently, the percentage of district coverage of ATLs is more than 90%.
-  ATLs are also open to students from other schools and children from nearby communities. Further, as per the self-reported data by the schools, following key results have been achieved:
-  More than 70,00,000 students are or have been actively engaged in ATL activities, enhancing their STEM skills.
-  More than 3,00,000 community children are or have been actively engaged in ATL activities, and are introduced to Tinkering and Innovation.
-  More than 1,80,000 projects are created by students from the ATL community.
- (d) Schools and their competent authorities are authorized to ensure that the ATL is accessible and open  to  all  students.  AIM  engages  and  monitors  the  schools  through  online  dashboard  and review  schools  based  on  the  ATL  guidelines.  AIM  is  in  constant  communication  with  the schools to observe adequate activities and workshops are carried out, troubleshoot issues, keep ATL  operational,  to  ensure  best  experience  for  the  students  of  the  country.  Whenever  AIM observes  any  lacunae  in  procedural  formalities,  AIM  supports  the  schools  to  update  all mandatory information to be uploaded on ATL Dashboard with relevant documents, and course correct their procurement and administrative processes with a remedial action and update AIM at the  earliest.  The  state-wise  list  of  ATL  schools  funded  as  on  November,  2021  is  placed  as Annexure A.
- (e) The procurement of ATL equipment is enabled via Government E-Marketplace (GeM). GeM has been implemented to create a transparent mechanism for procurement and fund utilization. As per the ATL guidelines, there is no explicit provision for five-year maintenance by tenderer. Schools are independent and responsible to identify the most suitable tenderer through the GeM portal with the goal to ensure smooth delivery of ATL activities and for maintenance of ATL Equipment.  AIM  provides  subsequent  tranche/s  to  the  school  over  a  period  of  four  years  to ensure smooth maintenance of ATL equipment.

*****

State/UT wise summary of funded Atal Tinkering Labs in Schools as on November 2021.

| State / UT                  | Grand Total                 |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| ANDAMANANDNICOBAR ISLAND 10 | ANDAMANANDNICOBAR ISLAND 10 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH              | 683                         |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH           | 31                          |
| ASSAM                       | 328                         |
| BIHAR                       | 93                          |
| CHANDIGARH                  | 22                          |
| CHHATTISGARH                | 351                         |
| DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI      | 4                           |
| DELHI                       | 197                         |
| GOA                         | 19                          |
| GUJARAT                     | 585                         |
| HARYANA                     | 391                         |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH            | 102                         |
| JAMMU AND KASHMIR           | 81                          |
| JHARKHAND                   | 122                         |
| KARNATAKA                   | 713                         |
| KERALA                      | 361                         |
| LADAKH                      | 2                           |
| MADHYAPRADESH               | 571                         |
| MAHARASHTRA                 | 973                         |
| MANIPUR                     | 114                         |
| MEGHALAYA                   | 13                          |
| MIZORAM                     | 25                          |
| NAGALAND                    | 24                          |
| ODISHA                      | 313                         |
| PUDUCHERRY                  | 18                          |
| PUNJAB                      | 221                         |
| RAJASTHAN                   | 487                         |
| SIKKIM                      | 27                          |
| TAMIL NADU                  | 918                         |
| TELANGANA                   | 341                         |
| TRIPURA                     | 20                          |
| UTTAR PRADESH               | 909                         |
| UTTARAKHAND                 | 78                          |
| WEST BENGAL                 | 209                         |
| Grand Total                 | 9356                        |