India–France Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics Announced for Kanpur

The centre will focus on advanced skill training in aeronautics, maintenance, repair and overhaul, airport operations, defence manufacturing and allied domains. It is envisaged as a world-class institution to strengthen India’s capacity in aviation skilling and support the aerospace and defence ecosystem.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State with independent charge for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, indicated that PM-SETU is redefining the future of the Industrial Training Institute ecosystem and that the Kanpur centre would create a pipeline of globally competent aviation professionals. He noted the initiative would deepen India’s strategic partnership with France in advanced technology sectors and align skills with global standards.

A Letter of Intent has been exchanged between MSDE and the Government of the French Republic to collaborate on the centre, building on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 on skill development and vocational education and training. The collaboration envisages co-designed curricula, training of trainers programmes, periodic joint reviews, exchange initiatives, language training and structured mobility pathways.

The India–France NCoE in aviation is expected to strengthen India’s skilling architecture and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through industry-integrated vocational education and training. PM-SETU has an overall outlay of Rs 600 billion (bn) and aims to upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes across the country, while other proposed National Centres of Excellence are planned for Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bhubaneswar.