J&K: Brewing potential for India’s growth

Dr. Jitendra Singh , Union Minister of State for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences , stated that Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) holds the potential to be a torchbearer in India’s journey to Destination 2047. He made the remarks at the launch of the ATL Sarthi and Frontier Region Programme of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, held at the University of Kashmir.

Dr. Singh highlighted that as India moves up in the global economic ranking from fourth to third, the value addition will increasingly come from regions and resources previously underexplored, including J&K. He noted that initiatives such as the Aroma Mission and floriculture have leveraged the region’s natural resources, fostering local entrepreneurship and innovation.

Under the Frontier Region Programme, 500 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) will be established in J&K, forming the largest share of the 2,500 labs sanctioned for frontier regions, with a total investment of ₹100 crore. These labs aim to provide school students with access to robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence tools, encouraging innovation at an early stage.

Dr. Singh also underlined the role of technology-driven sectors, including space, biotechnology, and ocean-based industries, in India’s economic growth. He stated that India’s space economy has expanded from “near zero” to $8 billion and is projected to reach $40–45 billion within a decade, with more than 400 startups currently active. Highlighting public-private collaboration, he referred to InSpace in space research and BIRAC in biotechnology as examples of structured partnerships driving growth.

In addition, J&K has seen significant development in entrepreneurship, particularly through initiatives such as the Aroma Mission, which supports around 3,500 lavender and flower-based startups, providing alternative career pathways beyond government jobs. Dr. Singh also noted that 50 students from J&K ranked among the top 1,000 in the nationwide School Innovation Marathon, reflecting the rising talent pool in the region.

The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Sakina Masood, University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan, and AIM Mission Director Dr. Deepak Bagla. Dr. Singh concluded that students trained in these labs will be the torchbearers of a developed India, positioning J&K as a key contributor to the nation’s growth and innovation ecosystem by 2047.