Mumbai, 19th February 2026:
The Prime Minister 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 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.
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 Rs 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.
