New Delhi : The
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, announced the establishment of a
National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at
National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Kanpur, in collaboration with the
Government of the French Republic under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and
Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme of Ministry
of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The Hon’ble Prime Minister
announced this statement was made during a joint press statement with the
President of France while inaugurating the India–France Year of Innovation and
related cooperation initiatives, including the National Centre of Excellence
for Skilling in Aeronautics.
The proposed NCoE at Kanpur will
focus on advanced skill training in aeronautics, Maintenance, Repair and
Overhaul (MRO), airport operations, defence manufacturing and allied domains.
It is envisaged as a world-class institution that will strengthen India’s
capacity in aviation skilling while supporting the country’s growing aerospace
and defence ecosystem.
Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble
Minister of State (Independent Charge), for Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India said,
“Under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, PM-SETU is
redefining the future of India’s ITI ecosystem. The National Centre of
Excellence in Aviation at Kanpur will not only create a pipeline of globally
competent aviation professionals but also deepen India’s strategic partnership
with France in emerging and advance technology sectors. This initiative
reflects our commitment to aligning skills with global standards, enabling
mobility, and preparing our youth for emerging opportunities in aeronautics,
defence and advanced manufacturing.”
A Letter of Intent (LoI) has been
exchanged between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE), Government of India, and the Government of the French Republic to
collaborate on the establishment of this Centre under the PM-SETU scheme. The
intent builds upon the India–France Strategic Partnership and the Memorandum of
Understanding that was signed in 2025 in the field of skill development and
vocational education and training.
The proposed collaboration
envisages co-designed curricula, structured training-of-trainers programmes,
periodic joint review of programmes, exchange initiatives, language training
and development of structured mobility pathways, along with cooperation in
aeronautics, space and allied domains. The Letter of Intent serves as a record
of intent pending the execution of a specific agreement governing the
activities contemplated under this initiative.
The establishment of the
India–France National Centre of Excellence in Aviation marks a significant step
in strengthening India’s skilling architecture, reinforcing global partnerships
and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through high-quality,
industry-integrated vocational education and training.
With an overall outlay of ₹60,000
crore, PM-SETU aims to upgrade 1000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
across the country, modernising infrastructure, aligning curricula with
industry demand and strengthening employability outcomes. In addition to
Kanpur’s aviation-focused Centre, the other proposed National Centres of
Excellence will cater to sectoral priorities aligned with regional industrial
strengths, including advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies and
high-growth service sectors at Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bhubaneswar.