India-France National Centre of Excellence in Aeronautics to Be Set Up at Kanpur | 20 Feb 2026

Why in News?

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• National Centre of Excellence (NCoE): This centre will focus on advanced skill training in aeronautics, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), airport operations, defence manufacturing, and allied domains, aiming to build a strong talent pipeline for India’s aerospace and defence sectors.
• Collaboration: The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Government of India and the Government of the French Republic. 
  • The collaboration envisages co-designed curricula, structured training-of-trainers programmes, periodic joint reviews, exchange initiatives, language training, and the development of structured mobility pathways to global standards.
  • Strengthening bilateral cooperation in skills development and vocational training, particularly in emerging high-technology sectors.
• PM-SETU Scheme: The NCoE is being established under the PM-SETU scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
  • With an overall outlay of ₹60,000 crore, the PM-SETU scheme seeks to transform and upgrade 1000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with industry-aligned curricula and infrastructure.
• Strategic Partnership: A Letter of Intent (LoI) has been exchanged between the MSDE and the Government of France to collaborate on the establishment and functioning of the centre.
• Significance: It strengthens India–France strategic cooperation while building a skilled workforce for India’s growing aerospace and defence sectors.