Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways,

Nitin Gadkari

, virtually unveiled the foundation stone of the

Indian School for Design of Automobiles

(

INDEA

) at

XLRI Delhi-NCR

. The initiative marks the beginning of a specialised institute aimed at training professionals in

automotive design

and management.

The foundation stone, named Param—a Sanskrit word meaning 'supreme' or 'ultimate', has been designed by installation artist Vibhor Sogani. The structure is intended to symbolise the institute’s goals in the areas of design and education.

INDEA has been developed under the XLRI Centre for Automobile Design & Management (XADM) and is led by Avik Chattopadhyay, Founder of INDEA and Chairperson of XADM. It will offer programmes focused on automobile design, aligned with industry standards and emerging global needs.

Support from Government and Industry

In a virtual address, Nitin Gadkari said, “India’s automobile sector holds the key to economic growth, employment generation, and global competitiveness. As we strive towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s $5 trillion economy vision, our industry is evolving from being cost-driven to quality-led, anchored in smart design, robust safety, and sustainable practices."

"The future will be shaped by strong R&D, innovation, and next-generation testing and certification. I am confident that the young talent trained at INDEA will become catalysts for change, turning knowledge into innovation, and innovation into national strength,” he added.

Fr. Dr. K.S. Casimir, Director of XLRI Delhi-NCR, said, “This ceremony marks a major leap in our vision of creating an institute that seamlessly blends design thinking, technical prowess, and industry alignment. Shri Nitin Gadkari’s digital presence as Chief Guest is not only an honour but also a strong endorsement of the vital role that design can play in India’s mobility future.”

Avik Chattopadhyay added, “INDEA is designed to be more than just an educational institute—it is a movement to elevate India’s design capabilities. With the encouragement of leaders like Shri Nitin Gadkari and guided by the vision of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are confident INDEA will become a key enabler in India’s journey to becoming a global design and innovation hub.”

The event also included discussions on future collaboration between academia and industry, with a focus on sustainable mobility, local innovation, and building global competitiveness in automotive design.