DTU Launches ATL Sarthi & Mentor India for School Innovation
The Delhi Technological University (DTU) Campus hosted the grand launch of ATL Sarthi & Mentor India Academy in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, bringing together 100+ participants from schools across Delhi, including principals, teachers, students, mentors, Regional Mentors of Change, and distinguished leaders from academia, media, and innovation ecosystems. This milestone launch was the result of a collaborative journey that began in Q2 of 2025, when Ms. Sunanda Rao connected with Dr. Indu, supported by Ms. Shruti Arora, with Viji Sridhar playing an important role in enabling this ecosystem-building vision that culminated in the successful launch on 29th April 2026.
Hosted by Sunanda Rao, Regional Mentor of Change, AIM, NITI Aayog, the event marked a transformative step toward strengthening Delhi’s school innovation ecosystem through mentorship, design thinking, and implementation-focused learning. Opening the event, Sunanda Rao shared insights on the vision of Mentor India Academy, emphasizing the importance of building strong mentor ecosystems that empower schools and students to move from ideation to impactful innovation. Dedicated sessions for teachers, students, and mentors focused on ATL ecosystems, innovation pathways, classroom transformation, and experiential learning, with Gauri Dutt Sharma leading teacher workshops on innovation and design thinking.
In his keynote address, Prof. Prateek Sharma, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, DTU, emphasized that innovation must go beyond projects and ideas toward meaningful deployment and execution. Reinforcing this, Shubham Gupta, Innovation Lead, AIM, NITI Aayog, highlighted that deployment is essential and proudly shared that India’s ATL movement has now reached global recognition. Sunil Mirza from The Hindu Group introduced The Hindu for Schools, adding a strong educational and knowledge partnership perspective. The event concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Dr. Indu, whose support played a pivotal role in bringing this initiative to life.
A key highlight of the launch was the showcase of 10+ student innovation projects, reflecting the creativity, innovation potential, and problem-solving mindset of Delhi’s young learners. The event also formally established the DTU ATL Cluster, comprising 14 schools, with CM Shri School as the Hub School and KIIT World School as the Sub Hub, creating a structured framework for school collaboration and innovation engagement.
Way Forward:
The DTU ATL Cluster will now host monthly innovation events at the DTU Campus, where school students will be mentored by DTU students and experts to transform projects into practical implementation. This initiative will create a sustainable bridge between schools and higher education, ensuring continuous mentorship, innovation exposure, and deployment opportunities. From its foundational conversations in 2025 to its grand launch in 2026, this journey stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in building India’s future innovation ecosystem.
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