**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 170, the Ministry of Education addressed the establishment of Centers of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) in government schools. As announced in the Budget 2025-26, the Government of India will establish a Centre of Excellence in AI for education with a total outlay of Rs. 500 crore (Para 4.6 of Budget Speech 2025-26). Furthermore, the government aims to establish 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools over the next five years (Para 4.1 of Budget Speech 2025-26). The selection of schools for establishing ATLs will adhere to the existing procedures outlined in the relevant scheme. Specific details regarding the selection of schools, including those in Mahesana, Gujarat, and Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, and information on school innovation challenges to promote ATL participation, will be addressed according to the established procedures of the scheme. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, provided this information.
Key Entities Referenced
Atal Tinkering Labs: An initiative to establish labs in schools to foster curiosity, innovation and scientific temper among students.
Artificial Intelligence: A field of computer science related to creating intelligent agents.
Budget 2025-26: The annual financial statement presented by the Government of India, outlining its proposed revenues and expenditures.
Centre of Excellence in AI for Education: A proposed center to promote and advance Artificial Intelligence in the field of education.
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for education in India.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
Mahesana, Gujarat: A district in the state of Gujarat, India.
Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh: A district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 170
ANSWERED ON- 21/7/2025
Atal Tinkering Labs in Government Schools
†170. Shri Haribhai Patel:
Dr. C M Ramesh:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has made any announcement in the Budget 2025-26 to start Centers of
Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in 50 thousand Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) of Governmental
schools during the next five years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has selected the schools wherein such Centers are proposed to
be started for the very first time;
(d) whether the list of said selected schools also include any of the schools run by the State
and the Union Government particularly in Mahesana in Gujarat and Anakapalli district of Andhra
Pradesh; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the school innovation challenges conducted to promote
ATL to increase student participation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): The Government of India has in Budget 2025-26 announced “Centre of Excellence in AI for
Education” as under:
Para-46 of Budget Speech 2025-26: “I had announced three Centres of Excellence in Artificial
Intelligence for agriculture, health, and sustainable cities in 2023. Now a Centre of Excellence in
Artificial Intelligence for education will be set up with a total outlay of Rs. 500 crore”.
Separately another announcement in Budget 2025-26 regarding Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) is as under:
Para-41 of Budget Speech 2025-26: “Fifty thousand Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in
Government schools in next 5 years to cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation, and foster a
scientific temper among young minds.”
The selection of schools where the ATLs are to be set up will be done as per extent procedure laid down
in the Scheme.
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