Tripura Launches India’s First State Innovation Mission ‘T-NEST’, Ushering in New Era of IT and Startup Reform

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, February 26, 2026

In a landmark development in its IT and innovation reform journey, Tripura on Thursday launched the country’s first-ever State Innovation Mission (SIM) — T-NEST (Tripura: Nurturing Entrepreneurship and Start-ups), positioning the state at the forefront of India’s evolving startup ecosystem.

The mission, supported by the Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog, aims to create a robust innovation ecosystem in Tripura by nurturing talent, supporting enterprises, promoting cutting-edge technologies, and transforming innovative ideas into impactful, scalable projects.

The formal launch ceremony was held at the International Exhibition Centre, Hapania in Agartala in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh, Chairman NITI Aayog Suman Bery, Member NITI Aayog Dr. VK Saraswat, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha described T-NEST as a transformative step in Tripura’s digital and entrepreneurial journey. He said the initiative would strengthen the state’s innovation landscape and empower youth by providing institutional support, mentoring, incubation, and funding linkages.

He expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Atal Innovation Mission and NITI Aayog, stating that T-NEST will help translate local ideas into viable enterprises while accelerating technology-driven growth in the state.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that the concept of the Atal Innovation Mission was inspired directly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under AIM, 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs were initially established across schools in India to foster a culture of innovation and startups among young students.

“The response was overwhelming,” he said, adding that due to high demand from schools nationwide, the government decided to expand the initiative to 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs to ensure wider outreach.

Moving to the next level, he said, the Government of India has now initiated State Innovation Missions to take innovation ecosystems down to district and grassroots levels.

“Tripura has become the first State in India to formally launch a State Innovation Mission. This reaffirms that the Northeast is truly the ‘New Engine’ of New India,” Dr. Singh remarked.

He further emphasized that when states innovate, India accelerates. SIMs, he said, are designed to institutionalize district-level innovation ecosystems and support the commercialization of local ideas into scalable startups. The government is also removing barriers for deep-tech startups and encouraging higher risk-taking to boost innovation.

During the event, a Statement of Intent was exchanged between the Tripura Institute of Technology (TIFT) and the Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog. The agreement aims to strengthen mentoring, incubation, and capacity-building efforts in the state.

Additionally, an MoU was signed between the Government of Tripura and T-Hub, one of India’s leading startup incubators of Hyderabad. The partnership is expected to enhance startup support, expand market access, and significantly boost Tripura’s innovation ecosystem.

Notably, with the launch of T-NEST, Tripura has positioned itself as a pioneer in institutionalizing innovation at the state level. The initiative is expected to catalyze entrepreneurship, generate employment, and integrate the state more deeply into India’s national startup and technology-driven growth narrative.

The launch marks not just an administrative reform, but a strategic vision to transform Tripura into a vibrant hub of innovation and enterprise in the Northeast region.

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