Explained: Where Does India Stand In Developing Drone Technology Amid Global Race

With the exception of those required by the military or for research and development, India banned the import of drones in February this year. The government wants to establish a domestic industry capable of designing, constructing, and manufacturing drones and their components.

According to the most recent EY - FICCI report titled "Making India the drone hub of the world," the drone and its components industry can significantly boost India's manufacturing potential to approximately US$ 23 billion by 2030.

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To make India the world's drone hub by 2030 and provide the most innovative and competitive manufacturing capabilities, robust action plans are also required to boost manufacturing, attract investments, and facilitate exports.

What are Drones?

The term "drone" refers to unmanned aircraft (UA), which were initially designed for use in the aerospace and military sectors. They are now used in the mainstream due to their increased efficiency and safety.

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The level of autonomy of a drone can range from remotely piloted, in which a human is in charge of its movements, to advanced relying on a system of sensors and LIDAR detectors to determine its movement.

Which sectors use drone technology?

The defence sector can use drones as a symmetric weapon against terror attacks. It can be integrated into the national airspace system to combat, and communicate in remote areas along with the counter-drone solutions.

A project involving the Telangana government and the use of drone technology to deliver vaccines to remote areas has received approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

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Drones can be used to spread micronutrients in the agricultural industry. The technology can also be used to conduct surveys to determine farmers' difficulties.

Within less than a year of its introduction by the Indian government, the drone technology used in the SVAMITVA program helped over half a million village residents obtain their property cards by mapping out the abadi areas.

Further, it helps in real-time surveillance of assets and transmission lines, theft prevention, visual inspection and maintenance, construction planning and management and can also be used to tackle poaching, monitor forests and wildlife, evaluate pollution, and collect evidence.

How India is regulating the use of drone technology?

Abolishing several approvals and permissions, the Ministry notified drone regulations in 2021 to make India a hub for drone research and development. Now, a remote pilot license is not required for the non-commercial use of micro and nano drones, and no permission is needed to operate drones in green zones.

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Drones can be used as unmanned flying taxis with payloads up to 500 kilograms. Further, the companies that operate drones have also been allowed foreign ownership.

The government approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) program with an allocation of Rs 120 crore for drones and their components for three fiscal years. The strategic, tactical, and operational applications of this technology are addressed in the Scheme for the industry of drones and its components.

Why do we need strict regulations?

Drones were recently used for the first time to drop explosives, causing blasts inside the technical area of the Air Force Station in Jammu. Pakistan-based outfits have frequently used drones to smuggle weapons, ammunition, and drugs into Indian territory over the past two years.

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In 2019, 167 drone sightings were recorded along the border with Pakistan, and 77 such sightings were recorded in 2020, stated government records.

It is impossible to rule out the possibility of a drone attack, even in the world's safest cities, given the rapid spread of drone technology and the exponential expansion of its global market in recent years. In conflict zones where non-state actors are active and have easy access to technology, drones are becoming a security risk.