Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar Announces 10 Atal Tinkering Labs in Thiruvananthapuram Schools

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, made significant announcements during the inauguration ceremony of the Net Zero Emission Project at NIMS Medicity in Thiruvananthapuram. Among the key highlights was the announcement of the establishment of 10 Atal Tinkering Labs in the city for 10 schools.

In his address, Minister Chandrasekhar underscored the critical role of Digital India and Skill India initiatives, emphasizing their potential to create vast opportunities in the country. He stated, “These initiatives not only shape the present but also hold immense promise for the future careers of students. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today’s students are the rightful beneficiaries of India’s digital advancements.”

Reflecting on the remarkable transformation in the landscape over the past decade, he highlighted the shift from a scenario where young Indians lacked sufficient support and encouragement to embark on entrepreneurial journeys. Minister Chandrasekhar noted, “Today, any young talent armed with innovative ideas can successfully launch enterprises in India. The transformative change from Old India to New India has been revolutionary.”

Interacting with students, he emphasized the significance of innovative and experiential learning, especially through Atal Tinkering Labs. These labs, championed by Prime Minister Modi, serve as fertile grounds where children cultivate skills that extend beyond textbooks, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.

The Minister lauded India’s impressive progress in electronics manufacturing, emphasizing the creation of a thriving tech ecosystem. “India now stands as the world’s second-largest producer of electronics, with a thriving ecosystem in semiconductor development. As we forge ahead, we are not merely building infrastructure; we are shaping a new India—one that embraces progress and innovation,” he added.

During the event, Minister Chandrasekhar unveiled the Nanajisat satellite, a remarkable achievement by NIMS engineering students.

This initiative marks another stride in Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s commitment to empowering education and innovation. Notably, he inaugurated the first Atal Tinkering Lab in Kerala at St. Paul’s School in Kuriachira, Thrissur, in July 2023, operating under a pioneering public-private partnership model.

The Atal Tinkering Labs, under the Atal Tinkering Mission, aim to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds, instilling skills such as design thinking, computational skills, adaptive learning, and physical computing.