New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, reached a significant milestone today with the formal recognition of its fourth cohort of Community Innovator Fellows (CIFs). This year, the program has been further strengthened through a strategic partnership with Capgemini India, a global leader in consulting and digital transformation, marking a new chapter in the mission to foster grassroots innovation across the country.
The CIF initiative continues to empower local innovators, enabling them to address community-specific challenges with creative, sustainable solutions. As part of the recognition ceremony, AIM also launched a two-day intensive bootcamp aimed at equipping the CIFs with the necessary skills to scale their innovative solutions. The bootcamp is an extension of AIM’s commitment to nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem across India, with a special focus on underserved regions. Through the Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC) program, AIM aims to support innovators in unserved areas and accelerate the country’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The CIF Program is a one-year, intensive initiative designed to provide aspiring innovators with the infrastructure, mentorship, and training needed to scale their ideas and build sustainable businesses. Each Fellow is hosted at an ACIC, where they receive SDG-focused training and develop solutions tailored to their community’s unique challenges.
In his keynote address, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, praised the program’s impact, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. He said, “The Community Innovator Fellows are uniquely positioned to address community-level problems with solutions that are both relevant and sustainable. This program aspires to create a model of excellence, where innovation meets purpose and community-centric ideas drive national progress.”
The partnership with Capgemini India has proven pivotal in strengthening the CIF initiative. Capgemini has supported the program by providing INR 1 lakh grants each to 15 CIFs, enabling them to scale their innovations. SRF Foundation, which leads the program’s implementation in collaboration with AIM and Capgemini, has played an essential role in ensuring its success.
During the event, Dhanashree Page, Head of Operations, Digital Inclusion – CSR at Capgemini India, shared her insights on the power of collaborative partnerships in driving local innovation. “The CIFs represent the hope and creativity of India’s grassroots innovators,” she said. “By empowering these individuals, we are enabling real, scalable solutions that can transform communities and drive sustainable change.”
Dr. Suresh Reddy, Lead CSR & Director at SRF Foundation, also spoke about the growing role of social entrepreneurship in addressing community challenges. “The CIFs are truly the brightest minds in India, using their innovation to solve critical local issues,” he said. “We remain committed to supporting such transformative initiatives and ensuring their impact reaches every corner of the country.”
The event concluded with the presentation of grants to the CIFs, marking the start of their entrepreneurial journey as they work to scale their ideas and bring tangible change to their communities. Through this program, AIM and its partners are furthering the vision of fostering innovation at the grassroots level, ensuring that solutions are driven by local needs and have a lasting, positive impact.