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Government New Delhi, Delhi Est. 2015

NITI Aayog

India's premier policy think tank running the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) with 72 incubation centres, tinkering labs, and innovation challenges to build the national startup ecosystem.

3,500+ startups supported 2 programs listed

About NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the Government of India's premier policy think tank, established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. Headquartered in New Delhi, NITI Aayog provides strategic and directional policy inputs to the Union and State Governments. It operates with a mandate to foster cooperative federalism, evidence-based governance, and innovation-driven development.

## Role in the Startup Ecosystem

NITI Aayog's primary contribution to the startup ecosystem is through the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), launched in 2016. AIM is the Government of India's flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. With an approved budget of INR 2,750 crore through March 2028, AIM operates one of the largest government-backed innovation infrastructure networks in the world.

## Programs

- **Atal Incubation Centres (AICs)**: AIM has established 72 incubation centres across India, supporting over 3,500 startups. AICs provide coworking space, mentorship, prototyping labs, and seed funding access to early-stage ventures.
- **Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)**: Over 10,000 tinkering labs set up in schools across India to build grassroots innovation culture among students aged 12-18. Labs are equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, IoT devices, and AR/VR tools.
- **Atal New India Challenges (ANIC)**: Grant-based challenges that provide up to INR 1 crore to startups solving specific sectoral problems identified by government ministries.
- **Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs)**: Incubation centres in Tier 2-3 cities and underserved communities, extending startup infrastructure beyond major metros.

## Who Benefits

Early-stage startups across all sectors, particularly those in healthtech, fintech, edtech, agritech, space tech, and drones. Student entrepreneurs and innovators from Tier 2-3 cities benefit directly from AIM's ATLs and ACICs. Government-aligned founders building solutions for public sector challenges find strong support through the ANIC program.

## Strategic Impact

AIM has fundamentally reshaped India's innovation infrastructure by pushing incubation and tinkering facilities into regions that previously had none. The network of 72 AICs and 10,000+ ATLs creates a pipeline of founders and innovators that feeds into the broader startup ecosystem. For founders, AIM's grant programs provide non-dilutive capital at a stage where few other options exist.

Who they work with

Stages
Idea MVP / Prototype Early Revenue
Sectors
Biotech, Health & Pharma Fintech Edtech & Skilling Agritech & Food Space, Drones & Defence Deeptech & Robotics

Programs by NITI Aayog 2

Closed Grant
FundingUp to Rs. 1 Cr
Equity-free MVP / Prototype

The Atal New India Challenge 2.0 is a flagship program of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, designed to identify, select, support, and nurture technology-based innovations that address critical national and societal challenges. It aims to bridge the gap between prototypes and commercial products, supporting innovators in scaling their solutions. The program focuses on providing grant funding and ecosystem support to help startups navigate the challenges of market entry and growth.

ClosesClosed
Closed Grant
FundingSupport amount varies
Equity-free

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has collaborated with Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK), the Royal Danish Embassy in India, and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to launch the fifth edition of the AIM-ICDK Water Innovation Challenge! This transformative program seeks India's brightest innovators to represent our nation globally. Selected participants will become part of the Indian cohort at the Next Generation Digital Action (NGDA) program, a global youth initiative

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Frequently asked questions

What funding programs does NITI Aayog run?

NITI Aayog currently has 2 programs listed in this directory, including Atal New India Challenge 2.0, AIM-ICDK Water Challenge 5.0. Each program page covers the funding amount, eligibility and application process.

Is NITI Aayog a government organisation?

Yes. NITI Aayog is listed under the government category. Its programs follow official government processes, and applications are submitted through official channels in your own name.

How do I evaluate whether a NITI Aayog program fits my startup?

Start with the stages and sectors shown on this profile, then open the program pages for eligibility conditions and document checklists. If you want a structured view, send an enquiry below and an IncorpX advisor will walk you through fit and readiness.

Do I apply to these programs through IncorpX?

No. Applications are always submitted in your own name with the respective program authority. IncorpX is independent of NITI Aayog and provides assistance for application preparation, document organisation and prerequisite registrations such as incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME and GST.

Enquire about NITI Aayog

Tell us what you are building and which NITI Aayog program you are evaluating. An IncorpX advisor will help you assess fit and get application-ready.

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Your enquiry goes to the IncorpX advisory team, who will help you evaluate fit and prepare. We are independent of NITI Aayog and never contact organisations on your behalf.

Important disclaimer

IncorpX is a private platform operated by a private company. It is not a government department, agency or official portal, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government body or of any organisation, incubator, accelerator, investor or partner listed in this directory. All program names, logos and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only.

This directory is compiled from publicly available official sources and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax or professional advice. Funding amounts, eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines and availability are determined by each program authority and change with every cycle, so the details shown here may be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm the current terms on the official program source before you apply or take any decision.

IncorpX charges no fee for the information in this directory and does not collect, process, lodge or submit any application on your behalf. Applications are made by you, in your own name, directly with the respective program authority. IncorpX provides assistance only for application preparation and for related registrations such as company incorporation, DPIIT recognition, MSME (Udyam) and GST. Eligibility, approval, disbursement and selection rest solely with the respective program authority, and IncorpX makes no representation or guarantee as to any outcome.

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