Drones Power Governance, Agriculture and Defence in India

Drone usage in India is expanding rapidly across land and property surveys, precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster management, railway and highway monitoring, and defence operations. This growth reflects the emergence of a strong ecosystem of manufacturers, software developers, and component suppliers.

Government Policy Boost

The Government of India has accelerated drone adoption through liberalised regulations and digital platforms, including:

• Drone Rules, 2021 and amendments in 2022–23
• The Digital Sky single-window platform
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones (₹120 crore outlay)
• GST reduction on drones to 5% (September 2025)
• Migration of regulatory services to the eGCA platform

These reforms have reduced compliance burdens and encouraged innovation in the drone ecosystem.

Integration with Flagship Schemes

Drones are now embedded in major government programmes such as:

• SVAMITVA Scheme – Drone-based mapping of rural abadi areas to resolve land disputes and improve access to bank credit.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – Crop damage assessment and insurance verification.
• Namo Drone Didi Scheme – Provides drones to Women Self Help Groups to improve farm productivity and create livelihood opportunities.

Use in Infrastructure and Disaster Management

• National Highways Authority of India mandates monthly drone-video monitoring for highway projects.
• North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach has developed disaster-response drones for floods and landslides.
• Indian Railways is deploying drones to monitor railway tracks, bridges, and infrastructure.

Growing Role in Defence

Drones are increasingly used by the Indian Armed Forces for border surveillance, intelligence gathering, and precision strikes. Indigenous drone and loitering munition systems have enhanced operational safety and effectiveness.

Industry Promotion Initiatives

Events such as Bharat Drone Mahotsav and the Drone International Expo promote Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) start-ups and new business models, helping build a globally competitive drone industry.

Source: PIB