New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under the Niti Aayog, on Wednesday signed a statement of intent (SoI) with CFA Institute India to strengthen financial literacy, ethical decision-making and governance capabilities across India’s expanding innovation and entrepreneurship network.
The collaboration will cover Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) and early-stage startups. It seeks to introduce structured capacity-building programmes and specialised financial education modules, along with exposure to global standards in governance and professional ethics.
Senior representatives of both organisations, including AIM mission director Deepak Bagla, CFA Institute president & CEO Margaret Franklin, and senior country head Arati Porwal, participated in the discussions preceding the signing.
Calling the partnership an “important step” in building a future-ready innovation ecosystem, Bagla said the collaboration would mobilise innovators from the grassroots to the global level by combining AIM’s nationwide innovation infrastructure with CFA Institute’s strengths in financial ethics and governance frameworks.
Franklin said India’s fast-scaling entrepreneurial landscape demands strong financial and governance competencies and noted that the collaboration will support young innovators in making sound, ethical decisions aligned with international benchmarks.
Porwal said that while technology and product innovation remain crucial, financial understanding and governance structures are fundamental for sustainability. She added that the initiative will work closely with incubators, startups and school-level innovators to instil awareness of financial markets, ethical conduct and governance principles early in the entrepreneurial journey.
As part of the agreement, school innovators under ATLs will receive structured modules on financial literacy and ethics. AIM-supported incubators and startups will gain access to expert-led training, advisory inputs and knowledge reports. CFA charterholders may also contribute to review and advisory processes within AICs and ACICs to strengthen transparency and accountability.
The partnership will roll out masterclasses, outreach programmes and knowledge sessions nationwide to support students, entrepreneurs and incubator managers. Officials said the collaboration is expected to infuse global expertise and international codes and standards into India’s innovation architecture.
AIM reiterated its commitment to advancing an innovation culture anchored in governance and financial discipline, positioning Indian innovators to compete more effectively at the global level.