Lok Sabha Question No. 3192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Use of UAVs
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3192 (To be answered on the December 2021) I6th

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

USE OF UAVS

3192.

SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has revised the policy for the civilian or commercial use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Drones and if the details thereof;
- (c) the detail of guidelines for the usage and flying of UAVs and drones in the vicinity 0f airports; and
- (6) whether the revised policy includes regulation for the sale and purchase of UAVs and drones and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government agencies and private companies are allowed to use drones for purposes like monitoring Oilfields and coalfields, if s0, the details 0f the Government and private organizations which currently use drones for their operations?

## 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 rules 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
- (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 0f drones are required to furnish the necessary personal details including their Indian passport number etc. for issuance of any registration or licence.
- (vii) Authorisation %f 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, gift 0r any other mode, after providing requisite details of the transferor; transferee and unique identification number of the drone on the digital sky platform with the applicable fees along
- (viii) Drone operations that violate the provisions of the Drone Rules, 2021 are punishable under Rule 49 of the Drone Rules, 2021 as well as provisions of any other Iaw, for the time being in force:
- (d) Yes: Sir. Government agencies and private companies are allowed to use drones for purposes like monitoring oilfields and coalfields. No permission of the Government is required for operation of drones in green zones upto a height of 400 feet: