Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the NITI Aayog, launched the Atal New India Challenge today.

Under the challenge, grants of up to one crore rupees, and mentorship will be given to the winning ideas. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, the challenge will be a milestone in terms of innovation in various sectors.

He said innovation, technology and research in sectors like agriculture and water transport should be given priority.

Speaking on the occasion, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, Atal New India Challenge is very critical as it involves innovating for the requirements of India. He said, the country needs tailor-made solutions for the 1.3 billion people of the country.

AIM will invite prospective innovators, MSMEs and start-ups to design market-ready products, using cutting-edge technologies or prototypes. The focus areas include climate-smart agriculture, smart mobility, predictive maintenance of rolling stock, and waste management.

Applicants showing capability, intent and potential to productize technologies will be awarded grants up to one crore rupees.

This grant will be further supplemented by mentoring, handholding, incubating and other support as needed at various stages of commercialisation, while generating wider deployment for the product.