The Mentor of Change initiative by NITI Aayog is a powerful step toward transforming education through mentorship. These mentors are professionals, entrepreneurs, and educators who volunteer their time to guide students in Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), helping them explore STEM concepts with a hands-on, problem-solving approach. The aim is to instill an innovation-first mindset in young learners and shape them into future-ready thinkers.
A Mentor of Change plays a pivotal role in shaping the ATL ecosystem. From conducting workshops to helping students build prototypes and refine their project ideas, mentors offer real-world exposure that school curricula often lack. According to NITI Aayog, these mentors serve as the bridge between classroom theory and real-world application, an essential ingredient in nurturing 21st-century skills.
How Mentor of Change NITI Aayog Can Help Atal Tinkering Lab?
Igniting Curiosity Through Real-World Challenges
Mentors expose students to real-life problems and guide them to build solutions using ATL equipment. This approach helps students shift from textbook learning to critical thinking and hands-on experimentation.
Building an Innovation Mindset Early On
Instead of rote memorization, mentors encourage kids to explore, ask questions, and iterate. They introduce design thinking, problem-solving frameworks, and rapid prototyping techniques, setting the base for future innovators.
Personalized Guidance and Mentorship
Each student has different learning speeds and interests. Mentors of Change identify strengths in students and provide tailored guidance, ensuring that no child is left behind in the ATL journey.
Helping Teachers Stay Updated
Many ATL-in-charge teachers are new to emerging technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, and 3D printing. Mentors often train the teachers too, empowering them to confidently manage ATL sessions and mentor students independently.
Creating a Bridge Between Academia and Industry
With most mentors coming from corporate or entrepreneurial backgrounds, they bring fresh industry insights to the classroom. This exposure helps students understand how their school-level innovations can solve real-world problems.
Driving ATL Calendar and Project Structuring
Mentors assist schools in planning ATL activities, competitions, and innovation challenges. They help design annual ATL calendars that align with learning outcomes, funding utilization, and compliance expectations.
Boosting Confidence for National-Level Competitions
Whether it’s AIM’s Marathon or Science Fairs, Mentor of Change helps students prepare projects, polish pitches, and confidently present their ideas, opening doors to national and global platforms.
Sagar Deshpande – A Mentor of Change Who Leads by Example
Sagar Deshpande, a tech enthusiast, serves as a Mentor of Change NITI Aayog and is actively associated with ATALUP. With rich experience in guiding school students and teachers alike, Sagar brings practical insights, design thinking, and entrepreneurial flair into every ATL session he mentors. His involvement goes beyond the classroom, he helps schools build sustainable innovation pipelines through strategic mentoring, project-based learning, and structured ATL implementation. View his LinkedIn profile here.
Whether it’s training teachers, shaping student prototypes, or ensuring the ATL labs become active centers of innovation, Mentors of Change like Sagar are the unsung heroes of India’s grassroots innovation movement.
Let’s see what our Mentor of Change has to say:
As a Mentor of Change under NITI Aayog, I’ve had the privilege of closely working with schools, students, and teachers across different regions. For me, Atal Tinkering Labs are not just rooms filled with equipment, they are spaces where young minds learn to think differently. I see ATLs as platforms where curiosity meets purpose, where a simple “why” or “what if” can turn into something impactful. It gives me immense satisfaction to help students believe that their ideas matter, no matter how small or raw they seem.
I genuinely believe that India’s true strength lies in its youth. If we want to build a future-ready generation, we must start by creating a culture of problem-solving and experimentation in our schools. ATL is a wonderful step in this direction, but it becomes meaningful only when students know how to use it. That’s where mentorship comes in. My goal is to help schools go beyond just setting up the lab, I want them to live the ATL journey, where teachers feel confident, students feel inspired, and innovation becomes part of their daily thinking.
Every session I take is a reminder of the untapped potential that exists in every classroom. With the right support, I believe schools can nurture thinkers, builders, and leaders who don’t just chase marks but solve problems around them. Through ATALUP, we’ve already received over 200 signed MoUs, and we are all set to guide these schools in securing ATL grants and building a truly performing ecosystem. I’m grateful to be part of this mission and look forward to contributing in every small way I can.”
Final Words
ATALUP is here to help schools perform futuristic activities and encourage their students to explore the smart world of STEM learning. If you want us to help you with-
- Eligibility check
- ATL application
- Lab setup
- Regular activities
- Compliance, etc.,
call us.