How drone policy is building an ecosystem

A drone flying over an Indian farm is no longer a symbol of futuristic technology. The Government of India has been actively supporting the use of drones in agriculture, rural livelihoods, and public services. What was once an emerging technology is now finding practical applications nationwide. As of February 2026, India had 38,500+ registered drones, 39,890 DGCA-certified remote pilots, and 244 approved training organisations (PIB, 2026). Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are remotely operated aircraft equipped with sensors and other technologies that allow them to collect data and perform tasks from the air. Their ability to provide high-resolution, on-demand information has made them useful in agriculture, where they can support crop monitoring, precision spraying, crop insurance, and the early identification of pests and diseases.

India’s drone journey initially began with regulation and safety. In 2018, Drone Regulations 1.0 focused on registration, permission, airspace restrictions, and safety. The Digital Sky platform introduced a ‘No permission, no take-off’ approach, while operations were initially limited to visual line of sight, daytime operations, and 400 feet. By 2021, the policy approach began to change from regulation to liberalisation. The Government moved from primarily regulating drone operations to creating conditions for their wider adoption. The new framework reduced the regulatory burden on operators and businesses: the number of forms fell from 25 to five, the number of fee categories from 72 to four, and the fee for a remote pilot licence from Rs 3,000 to Rs 100. The yellow zone around airports was also reduced from 45 km to 12 km, while the requirement for security clearance before operations was removed. These reforms were accompanied by a significant expansion of permissible operating space, with nearly 90 per cent of India’s airspace subsequently designated as a green zone for drone operations up to 400 feet.

Taken together, these measures did more than simplify compliance; they lowered entry barriers for entrepreneurs, manufacturers, service providers, and users. The next step was to move beyond regulation and build an indigenous drone ecosystem. The Government began treating drones not only as an aviation technology but also as an emerging industrial sector. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme allocated Rs 120 crore over three financial years to support domestic manufacturing of drones and drone components, signalling an effort to build indigenous capabilities in the sector. It has attracted Rs 595 crore in investment and generated around 2,650 jobs, alongside a reduction in GST on drones to 5 per cent in September 2025. This was complemented by the Drone Certification Scheme, which sought to simplify the certification process for manufacturers, while the Government’s import policy restricted imports of complete drones but permitted drone components, encouraging domestic assembly and manufacturing.

Mission Drone Shakti strengthened the ecosystem by promoting drone start-ups and Drone-as-a-Service models. Since 2022, the focus has shifted towards deployment, particularly in agriculture through schemes such as the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation and Namo Drone Didi. Between 2023-24 and 2025-26, 2,122 drones were approved for distribution, while over 40,000 Kisan Drone demonstrations covered approximately 41,000 hectares. Drones have also become central to the SVAMITVA programme for mapping rural inhabited areas and preparing property records. By March 2026, drone surveys had been completed in 3.29 lakh of the targeted 3.44 lakh villages, and 3.10 crore property cards had been prepared for 1.87 lakh villages. The impact is extending beyond land records: by August 2026, more than 11,000 loans worth around Rs 1,713 crore had reportedly been disbursed using SVAMITVA property cards.

At the same time, Namo Drone Didi is connecting drone technology with women-led rural entrepreneurship: 1,094 drones had been distributed to women Self-Help Groups by January 2026, including 500 under the scheme, with members trained as drone pilots. These developments show a broader shift in government policy from asking how drones can be regulated to demonstrating how the technology can improve agricultural services, strengthen land governance, and create new livelihood opportunities in rural India.

The experience on the ground also shows why these policy interventions matter. Interviews conducted with drone service providers, farmers, government officials, and academic experts as part of this research indicate significant potential for improving the efficiency of agricultural spraying. One drone operator reported that a UAV could cover a hectare in around 30 minutes. Another stakeholder compared conventional spraying, which could require approximately 100-120 litres of water and take two to two-and-a-half hours, with UAV spraying that used around 10-12 litres and could be completed in 10-15 minutes. These experiences illustrate how drones can make agricultural operations more targeted and time-efficient. Stakeholders also highlighted the importance of government-supported demonstrations and training, while pilots emphasised the need to assess field-level risks such as electrical wires and uneven terrain.

India’s drone journey shows what sustained government support can achieve when regulation, industrial policy, and development programmes move together. The GoI has created an enabling policy environment while using drones to address practical challenges in agriculture, land governance, and rural livelihoods. The next challenge is to scale these gains while strengthening training, safety, awareness, and responsible use.

With continued policy support and greater participation from start-ups, farmers, women-led groups, and local institutions, drones can become an important part of India’s broader technology and development strategy. The story of India’s drones is therefore no longer only about flying machines; it is about building an ecosystem in which technology serves economic opportunity, public services, and inclusive development.

Neha Sehra, Research Associate, CSLG, JNU and Reeta Sony, Associate Professor, CSLG, JNU; Views presented are personal.