AnyTime News 
ANYTIME NEWS NETWORK | In a major push to India’s aerospace and defence ecosystem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the establishment of the India–France National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Aviation at Kanpur under the ambitious PM-SETU scheme. The announcement was made during a joint press statement with the President of France, marking another milestone in the deepening India–France strategic partnership.
The Centre will be set up at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Kanpur, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), with active collaboration from the French government. It will focus on high-end skill training in aeronautics and defence sectors, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), airport operations, defence manufacturing and allied advanced technologies.
Envisioned as a world-class institution, the Centre aims to create a new generation of globally competitive aviation professionals. It will strengthen India’s capabilities in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance while supporting the country’s rapidly expanding aviation market.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, said the initiative reflects the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership in transforming India’s ITI ecosystem. He emphasized that the Kanpur-based aviation excellence centre will not only empower Indian youth with globally benchmarked skills but also further consolidate India’s strategic ties with France in advanced technology sectors.
The collaboration includes jointly developed curriculum frameworks, structured training programs for instructors, periodic joint reviews, faculty and student exchange initiatives, language training, and structured mobility pathways. The partnership also extends to aeronautics, space technologies and allied high-growth sectors.
An exchange of Letter of Intent between India’s MSDE and the French government has formalized the initiative under the ₹60,000 crore PM-SETU scheme, which aims to upgrade 1,000 ITI nationwide. The scheme focuses on infrastructure modernization, industry-aligned curriculum, and enhanced employability outcomes.
Besides Kanpur’s aviation-focused Centre, additional National Centre of Excellence are planned in Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bhubaneswar, catering to advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies and high-growth service sectors.
The India–France National Aviation Centre of Excellence stands as a decisive step towards strengthening India’s skill architecture and advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through industry-integrated vocational excellence.
