Lok Sabha Question No. 3122 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Drone Regulation Rules
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Hibi Eden

3122.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3122 (To be answered on the I6th December 2021)

## DRONE REGULATION RULES

SHRI HIBI EDEN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has officially notified the Drone Regulation Rules and if the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has come out with simplified Drone Rules, 2021 and if s0, the details and main features thereof including liberalised data protection; and
- (b) whether the Government distinguishes between drones used for professional videography and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) used for defence purposes and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has kept in view the drone attack on defence establishments while coming out with liberalized drone policy and if the details thereof? So,

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K SINGH (RETD))

(a) to (c) Yes; Sir. The Drones Rules, 2021 notified on 25 August 2021 provide the necessary regulatory framework for the civilian or commercial use of drones: These ruies cover various aspects like type certification; registration and operation of drones, airspace restrictions, research, development and testing of drones, training and licensing, offences and penalties etc

The salient features of the Drones Rules, 2021 include the following: (i) Every drone; except for those meant for research, development and testing purposes, is required to be registered and should have a Unique Identification Number (UIN):

- (ii) An airspace map of the country segregating the entire airspace into red, yellow and green zones is available on the digital sky platform: Operation of drones in red and yellow zones is subject to the approval of Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Central Government respectively. No approval

is however required for operation of drones in green zones which means the airspace upto a vertical distance of 400 feet:

- (iv) Drones are required to have the necessary type certification issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) No type certification is however required in case of nano drones (up to 250 gram all-up weight) and model drones made for research and recreation purpose.
- (iii) The State Government; the Union Territory Administration and Law enforcement agencies have been empowered under the Rules to declare a temporary red zone for a specified period:
- (v) The owner and operators of drones are required to furnish the necessary personal details including their Indian passport number etc for issuance of any registration or licence:
- (vii) Authorisation of Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTO) and issuance of remote pilot licences will be done by DGCA within specified time limits.
- (vi) Rule 17 of the Drone Rules, 2021, lays down the provision of transfer of drone to another person by way of sale, lease; or any other mode, after providing requisite details of the transferor transferee and unique identification number of the drone on the digital platform with the applicable fees. gift sky along

The drones used for professional videography comes under the purview of Drone Rules, 2021. Usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by the defence forces is exempted from purview 0f Drone Rules, 2021,

- (d) Drone Rules, 2021 were framed in consultation with various Ministries and security agencies. The steps taken by the Government to counter the threat of drones in the country are:
- (i) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) has been issued by the Ministry 0f Home Affairs (MHA) vide Office Memorandum No. VI-23014/209/IND/2018VS dated 10 2019 for handling threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms in the country, including vital installations under the Central Government: May
- (i) Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued AVSEC circular No. 02/2020 dated 11 February 2020 followed by addendum dated 09 February 2021 on "Basic requirements and technical specifications/ Qualitative Requirements (QRs) for counter drone technology for surveillance; detection and neutralisation of drones for airports" \_
- (iii) Drone operations that violate the provisions of the Drone Rules, 2021 are punishable under Rule 49 0f the Drone Rules, 2021 as well as provisions of any other law, for the time being in force

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