AICTE Partners with IG Drones to Establish 50 Drone Centres of Excellence Across India

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and IG Drones, a Gurugram-based drone technology company, have signed a memorandum of agreement to establish 50 Drone Centres of Excellence across engineering colleges in India. 

The initiative aims to train over 10,000 students annually in drone technology, supporting India’s national visions of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Each centre will provide hands-on training, certifications, and exposure to drone operations, manufacturing, and applications. 

“This collaboration with IG Drones is a step towards realising honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ powered by skilled youth,” said TG Sitharam, chairman of AICTE. “These Centres of Excellence will serve as vibrant hubs of innovation, democratising access to advanced technology, promoting inclusion, and fostering entrepreneurship.”

The centres are designed to support key sectors, including agriculture, defence, disaster management, logistics, and urban planning. The initiative also complements the government’s broader skilling agenda, as outlined in the 2025–26 Union Budget, which includes the creation of multiple Centres of Excellence and Atal Tinkering Labs.

The first drone centres under this initiative were launched in Odisha’s Kalahandi district in February, as part of the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. The programme there emphasises tribal and rural upskilling, especially for women and youth.

“Our mission is deeply rooted in the principles of indigenous innovation,” said Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder at IG Drones. “We aim to build a drone ecosystem that is truly ‘Made in India’, powered by local talent, and equipped to serve global standards.”

IG Drones, known for research-led, locally manufactured drone solutions, supports the national goal of reducing dependency on imports while developing home-grown technological capacity.

This public-private partnership is expected to enhance India’s technical education system by integrating real-world applications and preparing students for careers in advanced technology sectors.