AICTE and IG Drones Partner to Establish 50 Drone CoEs in Engineering Institutes Across India

AICTE and IG Drones Join Hands to Establish 50 Drone Centres of Excellence in Technical Institutes across India

In a landmark move towards creating a technologically skilled and self-reliant India, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IG Drones to set up 50 Drone Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across 50 engineering colleges in India. This initiative is aligned with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, aiming to bridge the skill gap in emerging technologies by empowering youth with cutting-edge training in drone technology.

The Drone Centres of Excellence will serve as dynamic hubs for innovation, hands-on training, and research, embedding advanced drone technology into technical education. Students will gain industry-relevant skills and certifications in drone operations, manufacturing, and applications. Under this initiative, 200 students from each university will be trained, equipping over 10,000 learners with specialized expertise in drone technology. These centres aim to foster entrepreneurship and indigenous innovation, creating a skilled workforce for high-impact sectors like agriculture, defence, disaster management, logistics, and urban planning. This initiative will play a vital role in driving economic growth and preparing youth for future-ready, impact-driven careers in a self-reliant, tech-enabled India.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, said, "This collaboration with IG Drones is a step towards realizing Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ powered by skilled youth. By embedding drone technology into our technical education framework, we are not only preparing our students for tomorrow’s jobs but also strengthening India’s capabilities in home-grown, high-end technology sectors. These Centres of Excellence will serve as vibrant hubs of innovation—democratizing access to advanced technology, promoting inclusion, and fostering entrepreneurship and indigenous development. They will not only equip students with industry-ready skills but also encourage them to launch their own startups and build solutions in high-end tech drone sectors."

The partnership gains further significance against the backdrop of the Government’s 2025–26 Union Budget, which has reaffirmed skilling as a top national priority. The establishment of five National Centres for Excellence in Skilling, a Centre of Excellence in AI, and 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs is part of a broader effort to equip youth with industry-relevant, specialized skills in a rapidly transforming economic landscape.

Adding a strong regional dimension to this national initiative, India’s first-ever Drone Centres of Excellence (CoEs) were established in Odisha in February, where Member of Parliament Sujeet Kumar, under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), partnered with IG Drones to set up Drone Training Centres in the Kalahandi district. These centres are a crucial part of IG Drones’ larger mission of preparing India’s youth for the Industrial 4.0 Revolution, with a goal to skill over 10 million students in advanced drone technologies through its Drone Centres of Excellence. Focused on tribal and rural upskilling, particularly among women and youth, the Kalahandi centres aim to create future-ready talent pools in underserved areas.

Two such centres have already been established in the gram panchayats of Sagada and Bhatangpadar, offering hands-on training to develop certified drone pilots and technicians. These programs not only provide pathways to meaningful employment but also spark STEM interest among schoolchildren, driving the long-term technological empowerment of the region.

Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder of IG Drones, said, 

Our mission is deeply rooted in the principles of indigenous innovation. Through this partnership, we aim to build a drone ecosystem that is truly ‘Made in India’, powered by local talent, and equipped to serve global standards. We believe this is how we make technology inclusive, equitable, and meaningful, especially for rural and tribal communities.

IG Drones is at the forefront of research-led, locally manufactured drone technology, minimizing reliance on foreign imports and strengthening India's position as a leader in drone innovation. The company’s focus on indigenous design, development, and deployment aligns with the national goal of creating a resilient and self-sufficient technological landscape.

This collaboration between AICTE and IG Drones marks a significant step in transforming India's technical education system by connecting classrooms with cutting-edge industry practices. It exemplifies how public-private partnerships can accelerate progress towards a skilled, empowered, and globally competitive Bharat—ready to lead the world in new-age technologies.