Forget standalone wins—India’s AI dominance will stem from a unified ecosystem, asserted Deepak Bagla, Director at NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in New Delhi.
Bagla painted a picture of AIM as the vital connector uniting startups, mentors, innovators, investors, policies, and implementation. ‘This integration turns AI into a people-powered movement,’ he said, aligning it with the ambitious Developed India 2047 goal where the country doesn’t just adopt AI but shapes its future.
AIM’s influence shone at the AI Impact Summit 2026, blending top-down strategies with bottom-up ingenuity. The event’s AI Tinkerpreneur Showcase stole the show, with 50 top teams from Atal Tinkering Labs unveiling AI innovations tackling healthcare gaps, agricultural inefficiencies, climate crises, educational barriers, accessibility hurdles, and public service enhancements.
This Intel-backed AIM initiative has sparked AI passion in schools, drawing 12,000+ teams nationwide. After intense evaluations, the finest 50 got their moment in the spotlight.
Empowering voices rang loud in the ‘AI by Her’ spotlight, as ATL girls narrated their triumphs over adversity, showcasing AI projects that affirm their role in India’s tech narrative.
The ATLs exemplify how school-level creativity syncs perfectly with national AI strategies. These youthful contributors are accelerating India’s journey toward technological self-reliance and entrepreneurial prowess on the world stage.