AIR Spotlight - Discussion on Atal Innovation Mission's APP Development Module

Participants are –R. Ramananda The Atal Innovation Mission Director NITI Aayoga, and Nilabh Shrivastav, Journalist

Context

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched the ‘ATL App Development Module’ for school children all across the country. It aims at transforming school students from App users to innovative App Developers.

Background

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was launched to leverage demographic dividend and to develop scientific temper.
AIM is a national initiative and brainchild of the PM, launched in order to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of our country.
5 pillars on which AtmaNirbhar Bharat stands are Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand.
Considering the demographic dividend - India has 1.3 bn people, 1.4 mn schools ,10,000 engineering institutes ,39 thousand colleges ,150 mn young students. These young students are going to enter the workplace in the next 5-10 years.
Hence, Atal Innovation Mission aims-

1) To promote culture of innovation and problem solving

2) To create an ecosystem of entrepreneurship

Atal Tinkering Labs

Over 5100 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established.
Through ATLs 500-600 students in every school get an opportunity to interact and play with the latest technologies like 3d printers, IOT,robotics, Virtual Reality, DIY kits.
Using these technological interventions they’ll be able to solve socio-economic problems in their communities.

With the internet and mobile revolution, new technologies like 5G have come up.
This has enabled the ability to extend the power of innovation to reach the remotest parts of the country like hills,rural areas through mobile apps.
This also enabled development of backend technologies.
Hence, the AatmaNirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge was launched to trigger world class app development in India for meeting innovation challenges for self-reliant India.
Parallely, AIM launched the “ATL App development module” for young students.

ATL App development module

Today, app development has evolved from programming to plug and play because of advancement in technology and tools.
ATL app development module is one of the largest App learning and development initiatives at a school level in any country
It has been launched in collaboration with Indian homegrown startup Plezmo
It consists of online modules and aims at transforming school students from app users to great app developers.
AtmaNirbhar Bharat depends upon world class apps made in India. However, not only India but the entire world would benefit from these apps.
It has 2 components-

1) App development modules for teachers and mentors - periodic Teacher Training sessions to build capacities and acumen for App Development within school teachers.

2) for students - Through 6 project-based learning modules and online mentoring sessions, young innovators can learn to build mobile Apps in various Indian languages and showcase their talent.

During lockdown, as a part of #TinkerfromHome campaign AIM created a growing state of the art platform for the students and teachers across the country to learn and apply the latest technologies including Artificial Intelligence,Game Development and 3D Design.
Both the components have step by step modules and evolve from basic to intermediate to advanced level.

Apps

There is no limit of areas for developing these apps and they can span across various fields.
For e.g under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Campaign, one of the pillars is infrastructure. Hence, under digital infrastructure apps can be developed to reach the end citizens and provide great services related to affordable housing,medical facilities,electricity solutions etc.
These apps will extend the power of innovation.They will be connected to backend innovation which enables functionality to reach across end users, hence having a high impact potential.
Another example is the pillar of demand. India has 1.3 bn people and there are multiple verticals like agriculture, biotech,healthcare, e- commerce, water management and so on. Thus apps can be developed to fulfill this demand.

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Atal Innovation Mission

AIM has been working with school students for the last 3 years.World class “Atal Tinkering Labs” have been established across all districts to promote problem solving innovative mindset.

World class “Atal Incubators” have been established to nurture innovative start-ups in their pursuit to become scalable and sustainable business enterprises.Grants of 10 crore is given to 25-30 startups every year.
The Mission focuses on women led growth and hence most incubators and startups have provided support to women led startups. 70% schools covered under ATL are also girl schools and co-ed schools.
“Atal Community Innovation Centre”- is directed to encourage the spirit of innovation through solution driven design thinking to serve the society.
It will focus on tier -2,3 cities and rural India i.e underserved/unserved regions.
It will help them become hubs of innovation and job growth for the local community.

“Atal New India Challenges” aims to design and demonstrate market-ready products based on cutting edge technologies in identified focus areas having national impact at socio-economic level.The product will be given a grant of 1 crore to convert the prototype.
Applied Research and Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE) - to stimulate innovation and research in the MSME industry.They will work with different ministries and great research ideas would be commercialized and converted to final products.
Governments, Industry,Academia along with state and local governments will create an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship to help India become IT leaders by leveraging technology.

Along with AtmaNirbhar Bharat ,“Vocal for local” focuses on development of indigenous technologies. It will give India an opportunity to reap the benefits of demographic dividend and express itself on global platforms.

With the largest IT and ITes sector along with tremendous intellectual and knowledge capital ,the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship will help students,entrepreneurs and industries to thrive and blossom.