New Delhi, February 19 The proposed National Centre of Excellence for skilling in aeronautics and defence at Kanpur is envisioned as a world-class institution that will strengthen India's capacity in aviation skilling, the government said on Thursday.
The Prime Minister announced the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Kanpur, in collaboration with the French government earlier this week.
It will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
"The proposed NCoE will focus on advanced skill training in aeronautics, maintenance, repair and overhaul, airport operations, defence manufacturing, and related fields."
"It is envisioned as a world-class institution that will strengthen India's capacity in aviation skilling while supporting the country's growing aerospace and defence ecosystem," the ministry said in a statement.
Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said the NCoE will not only create a pipeline of globally competent aviation professionals but also deepen India's strategic partnership with France in emerging and advanced 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," the minister added.
The collaboration envisages co-designed curricula, structured training-of-trainers programmes, periodic joint review of programmes, exchange initiatives, language training, and the development of structured mobility pathways, along with cooperation in aeronautics, space, and related domains.
A Letter of Intent (LoI) has been exchanged between the ministry and the French government in this regard.
This initiative is a part of the India-France Strategic Partnership and the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2025 in the field of skill development and vocational education and training.
With an overall outlay of Rs 60,000 crore, PM-SETU aims to upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country, modernizing infrastructure, aligning curricula with industry demand, and strengthening employability outcomes.
In addition to Kanpur's aviation-focused centre, the other proposed NCoEs 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.
