BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 26th February 2026: Launching India’s first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Agartala today Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said that innovation must move beyond laboratories and metropolitan corridors to districts, villages, and every citizen whose aspirations define the idea of a New India.
Describing the Northeast as the “New Engine” of India’s growth, the Minister said, Tripura’s initiative marks a decisive step toward decentralizing technology and democratizing opportunity.
Dr. Jitendra Singh described the launch of SIM in Tripura as a natural progression of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), an initiative envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recalling that the concept of innovation missions was once unfamiliar in government systems, he said AIM has, over the last several years, transformed into a nationwide movement. From the establishment of nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) to the recent decision to expand to 50,000 more, the innovation ecosystem now reaches deep into districts and small towns, inspiring school students across the country.
The Minister said Tripura, under the leadership of Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, has taken the lead, setting an example for the rest of the country. The Minister described this as a demonstration of the “double engine” approach, where national vision and state-level execution work in tandem.
Highlighting Tripura’s performance in entrepreneurship, the Minister shared that the state today has over 150 registered startups, recording an average growth of around 66 percent in startup recognitions over the last five years. A significant share of these ventures is women-led, positioning Tripura as a leader in gender-inclusive innovation in the Northeast. He added that the launch of SIM will further support commercialization of innovative ideas and strengthen the startup ecosystem.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also pointed to Tripura’s strong MSME base, with more than 3.13 lakh registered MSMEs on the Udyam portal as of early 2026, including over 1.18 lakh formal Udyam registrations and nearly 2 lakh micro-enterprises supported through the Udyam Assist Platform. He said the growth of MSMEs will receive fresh momentum through SIM, contributing to employment generation and local economic expansion.
The Minister spoke about Tripura’s unique strengths, particularly its bamboo and rubber resources, and said these can drive high-value manufacturing, including applications linked to the defence sector, biofuel for aerospace and specialized materials. He emphasized that leveraging local strengths for national priorities would define the next phase of growth.
Concluding, he said Tripura’s journey sends a powerful message: when vision meets execution and policy meets participation, transformation becomes inevitable. He called for sustained collaboration between Centre and State, public and private sectors, and science and society to ensure that India’s innovation decade becomes India’s defining century.
