New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has created history as its flagship initiative, Mega Tinkering Day 2025, secured recognition from the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. The event marked the largest-ever student participation in a tinkering activity conducted on a single day.
On August 12, 2025, more than 4,73,350 students from 9,467 Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) schools across the country joined a live, step-by-step instructional session to design innovative solutions for Swachh Bharat and create their own DIY vacuum cleaners.
This milestone has positioned Mega Tinkering Day 2025 as a record-breaking event in India’s education and innovation landscape.
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The achievement was formally announced on September 15, 2025, with both record authorities officially confirming AIM’s feat.
Mega Tinkering Day 2025: A Movement in Innovation
Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, stated: “This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youth power form the foundation of India’s growth. Through Atal Tinkering Labs, students are being equipped with technical skills and the mindset to dream big, think differently, and solve real-world challenges.”
Bagla highlighted that Mega Tinkering Day 2025 is not just about breaking records but about inspiring a nationwide movement of young innovators. He emphasized that no other country has mobilized innovation on such a large scale within its school ecosystem.
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Nationwide Impact of Mega Tinkering Day
The event witnessed participation from schools across all regions of India – from Leh, Ladakh, and Kargil to Kanniyakumari and Bhuj, as well as aspirational districts like Virudhunagar and the North-Eastern states including Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
This widespread involvement reflected AIM’s capacity to overcome geographic and infrastructural challenges to unite students in a shared journey of discovery and innovation.
AIM’s Role in Fostering Innovation
Since its inception, Atal Innovation Mission has set up more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) nationwide. These labs provide hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and electronics.
The initiative nurtures problem-solving, design thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit among students, shaping the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
With Mega Tinkering Day 2025, AIM has reinforced its role as one of the world’s largest grassroots innovation movements, championing the cause of student-led innovation across India.