New Delhi: India’s first State Innovation Mission (SIM) was launched in Tripura on Thursday, marking a major push to decentralise technology and strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship.
Launching the SIM in Agartala, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said innovation must move beyond laboratories and big cities. It should reach districts, villages, and every citizen who shapes the vision of a New India.
Describing the Northeast as the “New Engine” of India’s growth, Singh said Tripura’s initiative is a decisive step toward democratising opportunity and decentralising technology-led development.
The launch event was attended by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, NITI Aayog Chairman Suman Bery, NITI Aayog Member V. K. Saraswat, and other senior officials, startup founders, and industry representatives, according to an official statement.
Singh said the SIM in Tripura is a natural progression of the Atal Innovation Mission, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that innovation missions were once unfamiliar in governance systems, but have now evolved into a nationwide movement.
Nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have already been established across the country. The government has recently decided to expand this number by 50,000 more. According to the Minister, these labs are nurturing innovation among school students even in small towns and remote districts.
The minister further said the Union Cabinet’s decision to promote SIM across states and Union Territories reflects the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. He described Tripura’s move as an example of the “double engine” approach, where national vision and state-level execution work together.
He also highlighted the transformation of the Northeast over the past decade. Improved rail and air connectivity, expanding tourism, and stronger integration with the national economy have changed the region’s growth narrative, he said.
