Lok Sabha Question No. 2540 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Namo Drone Didi Scheme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2540 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025

## NAMO DRONE DIDI SCHEME

## 2540. Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and total number of drones distributed to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, Statewise;
- (b) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness and train women SHGs to handle drones;
- (c) the details of total expenditure incurred by the Government in training and conducting these awareness campaigns;
- (d) whether  the  Government  will  prioritise  distributing  drones  to women in the coastal belt of Kerala, which can enhance their livelihood opportunities; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)

(a) to (c): Government  approved  Central  Sector  Scheme  'NAMO DRONE DIDI' for  providing  Drones to  the  Women  Self  Help  Groups (SHGs),  during  the  period  of  3  years  (2023-24  to  2025-26)  with  an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores.

The major aims  and  objectives  of  the  scheme  is  to  promote advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced crop yield and reduced cost of operation and to empower Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) as drone service providers for increasing their income and providing livelihood support to them. 1094 drones have been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in 2023-24 utilizing their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones, 500 drones have been distributed to SHGs under Namo Drone Didi

scheme. The State-wise distribution of these drones is indicated in Annexure.

The drones under Namo Drone Didi Scheme are supplied as a package, which also include training for one of the members of the SHGs for fifteen days. The training covers drone flying, understanding provisions of Drone Rules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for nutrient and pesticide application, drone flying practice for agriculture purpose and minor repair & maintenance of drones.

Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare  has released Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for  drone  application  with pesticide for crop protection and for spraying soil and crop nutrients in  agricultural,  forestry,  non-cropped  areas  etc.  in  December  2021 that provides concise instructions for effective and safe operations of drones. It covers important aspects like statutory provisions, flying permissions, area distance restrictions, weight classification, overcrowded areas restrictions, drone registration, safety, insurance, pilot certifications, operation plan, air flight zones, weather conditions, operating instructions for pre, post and during operation, emergency handling plan etc. SOPs for application of pesticides with drones have also been released in April 2023, which has widened the potential use of Kisan Drones with pesticides in 10 different crops grown under diverse agro-climatic conditions. It includes information for drone operations based on relevant parameters like temperature, humidity, wind speed, terrain conditions and crop conditions/stages etc.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is actively promoting drone use in agriculture through widespread demonstrations on the farmers' fields with financial support of Rs. 52.50  Crores  under  the  Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanization (SMAM). During the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26, the institutions of ICAR, Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) across the country had carried out 40928 kisan drone demonstrations on farmers' fields on nutrients, fertilizers, chemicals (insect and pest) applications  following  these  SOPs  and  covering  an  area  of  40918 hectare.

(d) & (e): Under  Namo  Drone  Didi  scheme,  02  numbers  of  drones have  been  distributed  in  the  State  of  Kerala.  An  allocation  of  82 drones under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme has been conveyed to the State of Kerala.

The Committee at State is responsible for selection of appropriate clusters  in  particular  States  for  drone  usage,  selection  of  the progressive  women  SHGs  under  DAY  -  NRLM  in  the  States  in  the identified clusters for providing drones, selection of members of the women SHGs for drone pilot and drone assistant training, assessment of district-wise drone usage, identification of existing gap, availability and future requirements of drone usage, providing/ensuring business to selected Women SHGs in coordination with the LFCs and Pesticide companies etc. The State of Kerala has already constituted the committee under the Agriculture Production Commissioner  involving  members  from  Department  of  Agriculture Development  and  Farmers  Welfare,  Government  of  Kerala,  Kerala Agriculture  University,  Local  Self  Government  Department,  State Mission  Director  -DAY-NRLM,  Cooperative  Societies  Department, Fertilizers  &  Chemicals  Travancore,  National  Bank  for  Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and State level Bankers Committee.

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## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  OF  PART  (a)  to  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2540 ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025 REGARDING 'Namo Drone Didi Scheme'

## State-wise details of drones distributed under Namo Drone Didi Scheme

| S. No.   | State Name       |   LFCs |
|----------|------------------|--------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh   |     96 |
| 2        | Assam            |      9 |
| 3        | Bihar            |      5 |
| 4        | Chhattisgarh     |     12 |
| 5        | Gujarat          |     18 |
| 6        | Haryana          |     22 |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh |      4 |
| 8        | Jharkhand        |      1 |
| 9        | Karnataka        |     82 |
| 10       | Kerala           |      2 |
| 11       | Madhya Pradesh   |     12 |
| 12       | Maharashtra      |     30 |
| 13       | Odisha           |     12 |
| 14       | Punjab           |     23 |
| 15       | Rajasthan        |     17 |
| 16       | Tamil Nadu       |     17 |
| 17       | Telangana        |     32 |
| 18       | Uttar Pradesh    |     33 |
| 19       | Uttarakhand      |      7 |
| 20       | West Bengal      |     20 |
| Total    |                  |    500 |

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