AICTE and IG Drones join hands to set up 50 Drone Centres of Excellence

New Delhi: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IG Drones, a drone start up, to set up 50 Drone Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across 50 engineering colleges in India.

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, said a statement.

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.

"These Centres of Excellence 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, T G Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, said.

"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, "Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder of IG Drones, said.

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.