Jammu & Kashmir holds the promise to be the torchbearer of India’s journey to Destination 2047, said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh at the University of Kashmir. He was speaking during the launch of the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog.
Dr. Singh explained that as India’s economy rises from rank four to three and beyond, growth will depend on unexplored regions and resources. Jammu & Kashmir qualifies on both counts, he said, adding that the region began receiving its rightful attention only after 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Initiatives like the Aroma Mission have already opened new avenues by tapping the resources of the Himalayas and rivers.
He described Jammu & Kashmir as a potential frontline contributor to India’s innovation-led growth story. Congratulating the launch of ATL Sarthi in Srinagar, Dr. Singh called it a “dual celebration” — Kashmir University’s active role in national growth and AIM expanding its innovation network to the Union Territory.
As part of the Frontier Region Programme, 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in Jammu & Kashmir. This will be the largest share out of the 2,500 labs sanctioned for frontier regions, with an investment of ₹100 crore. These labs will expose school students to robotics, AI, and 3D printing, inspiring innovation at an early age.
Dr. Singh noted that technology-driven sectors like space, biotechnology, oceans, and the Himalayas are powering India’s growth. The country’s space economy has already grown from near zero to $8 billion and is projected to reach $40–45 billion in a decade, with over 400 startups active in the sector. He said private sector involvement is essential, pointing to successful models like InSpace in space research and BIRAC in biotechnology.
Highlighting local innovation, he mentioned how the Aroma Mission and floriculture have created thousands of lavender and flower-based startups in J&K. Nearly 3,500 lavender ventures are thriving, with many youth leaving corporate jobs to build businesses at home. These opportunities, he said, are helping young people look beyond government jobs.
Dr. Singh praised the region’s talent pipeline, noting that 50 students from J&K featured among the top 1,000 in the nationwide School Innovation Marathon. He urged students and parents to let go of the belief that startups succeed only in metros, pointing out that half of India’s startups now come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
“As we talk of India@2047, the students in these labs will be in their prime working years. They will be the torchbearers of a developed India, and through them, Jammu & Kashmir will already be a torchbearer of the national journey,” he concluded.
The event also saw the presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Sakina Masood, University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan, and AIM Mission Director Dr. Deepak Bagla.
