Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Friday called for integrating grassroots innovators with India’s formal innovation ecosystem, asserting that the country’s next wave of economic growth will emerge from villages, small towns and local communities rather than only from laboratories and metropolitan centres.
Addressing the Grassroots Innovator Recognition Ceremony 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, the Minister said India must create a seamless pathway to transform local innovations into nationally scalable enterprises. He emphasised that grassroots innovations are crucial for building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The ceremony was held in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Sood, NITI Aayog CEO Nidhi Chhibber, senior government officials, scientists, incubator partners and innovators from across the country.
A total of 26 grassroots innovators were honoured for developing practical and affordable solutions across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, water management, assistive technology, circular economy and sustainable livelihoods.
Singh said innovation should not end with recognition but should progress through scientific validation, technology development, incubation and market adoption. He stressed that local solutions must evolve into national assets capable of addressing India’s developmental priorities.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to democratise innovation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Minister said the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has expanded the country’s innovation ecosystem beyond premier institutions and urban centres. He said the initiative has enabled innovators from rural, tribal, hilly, coastal, aspirational and remote regions to actively contribute to India’s development.
Describing grassroots innovation as the true strength of India’s innovation ecosystem, Singh noted that the country has crossed 2.4 lakh startups, making it the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. However, he said the real measure of success lies in solving everyday problems through affordable technologies that improve the lives of farmers, women, artisans and entrepreneurs while generating sustainable livelihoods.
The Minister highlighted the role of Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) in bridging the gap between community knowledge and the formal innovation ecosystem. He said 25 ACICs are currently operational, while another 25 are under development. Together, the existing centres have supported more than 2,500 grassroots innovators by providing mentoring, incubation, technical guidance, market linkages and capacity-building support.
The 26 innovators recognised this year represent 16 states and 23 districts, with participants ranging in age from 24 to 66 years. The awardees include 11 women innovators whose work addresses challenges in agriculture, healthcare, water conservation, clean energy, sustainable manufacturing, disability support and rural livelihoods.
Among the innovations recognised were compact mini rice mills for small farmers, tractor-operated machines to reclaim uncultivable land, technologies that convert agricultural residue into high-value bio-products, AI-enabled soil diagnostic services, biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics made from agricultural waste, affordable assistive technologies for persons with disabilities and decentralised clean energy solutions.
Calling for stronger institutional support, Singh advocated closer integration between the Atal Innovation Mission and the Department of Science and Technology’s National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI). Such convergence, he said, would provide innovators with access to technology business incubators, centres of excellence, scientific validation, prototype development, intellectual property support, testing and certification, manufacturing partnerships, finance and market linkages.
Referring to the success of the National Innovation Foundation, the Minister cited the example of the Mitticool refrigerator, which evolved from a traditional clay-based innovation into a product backed by Bureau of Indian Standards specifications. He said the example demonstrates how grassroots ideas can achieve national recognition through sustained institutional support.
Singh also urged scientists, academic institutions, industry, incubators and government departments to work together to support innovators beyond the recognition stage. He said every innovator should receive assistance in design refinement, intellectual property facilitation, testing, certification and pilot deployment to ensure promising ideas reach the market.
Concluding his address, the Minister expressed confidence that with stronger collaboration across government, academia and industry, grassroots innovators would play a central role in shaping an Atmanirbhar Bharat and a developed India by 2047, with transformative ideas emerging from every village, district and community across the country.
