Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, virtually inaugurated the Indian School for Design of Automobiles (INDEA) at the XLRI Delhi-NCR campus. This marks the launch of India’s first institution dedicated exclusively to automobile design and management, aiming to foster a new generation of automotive designers and engineers.
INDEA is a part of XLRI’s Centre for Automobile Design & Management (XADM), with Avik Chattopadhyay serving as its founder and XADM chairperson. The institute’s mission is to equip students with the skills to meet both international design standards and the specific needs of the Indian market.
The foundation stone for INDEA, named “Param,” was designed by renowned installation artist Vibhor Sogani. The steel structure stands as a symbolic representation of the school’s vision and commitment to shaping the future of automobile design in India.
At the inauguration, Mr Gadkari highlighted the critical role of the automobile sector in driving India’s economic growth and creating jobs. He expressed confidence that the students trained at INDEA would be at the forefront of transforming the automotive industry, noting the sector’s shift towards a focus on design, safety, and sustainability rather than merely cost.
Fr Dr KS Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR, described the ceremony as a milestone toward establishing an institute that blends design thinking with technical expertise and industry relevance. Avik Chattopadhyay emphasized that INDEA is designed to be more than just an educational institution, aiming to lead the charge in advancing India’s design capabilities within the automotive sector.
The school will offer a master’s program in automobile and transportation design, focusing on practical training in areas such as design, prototyping, and design management. The curriculum is aligned with the “Make in India” initiative, and INDEA plans to collaborate with industry leaders to further develop India’s automotive design landscape.
