Lok Sabha Question No. 3239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Making India a Drone Hub
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sumalatha Ambareesh, D.K. Suresh, Nalin Kumar Kateel

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3239 (ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023)

## MAKING INDIA A DRONE HUB

## 3239.  SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:

SHRI D.K. SURESH:

SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that India is having all the essential qualities to become a potential drone leader, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is keen on making India a leading drone hub in the near future; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF

## SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a),(b)&(c)  Yes, Sir.  The Government has undertaken a series of reform measures  to  make  India  a  global  drone  hub  by  2030.  The details are as under:
- a) Liberalised  Drone  Rules,  2021  has  been  notified  on  25 th August 2021;
- b) Drone Airspace Map has been published on 24 th  September 2021, opening up nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone for drones flying up to 400 feet;
- c) Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones has been notified on 30 th  September 2021;
- d) UAS  Traffic  Management  (UTM)  Policy  Framework  has been published on 24 th  October 2021;

- e) Monetary grant programme for the purchase of agricultural drones was announced by the Union Agriculture Ministry on 22 nd  January 2022;
- f) All application forms under Drone Rules, 2021 have been made  online  on  the  DigitalSky  Platform  on  26 th   January 2022;
- g) Drone  certification  scheme  has  been  notified  on  26 th January 2022;
- h) Mission 'Drone Shakti' has been announced for supporting drone startups and promoting Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS) as part of the Union Budget on 1 st  February 2022;
- i) Drone import policy has been notified on 9 th  February 2022, banning the import of foreign drones and freeing up the import of drone components;
- j) Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2022 has been notified on 11 th February 2022, abolishing the requirement of a drone pilot licence.    Now  a  remote  pilot  certificate  is  issued  by  a DGCA-authorised RPTO which is adequate for the remote pilot to operate drones; and
- k) As on 25 th  July 2023, there are 63 Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) authorized by DGCA for imparting drone training/skilling across the country.

The Drones Rules, 2021 notified on 25 th  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 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  the  Central

Government and the concerned Air Traffic Control (ATC) authority  respectively.  No  approval  is  required  for  the operation of drones in green zones.

- (iii) Drones are required to have the necessary type certification  issued  by  the  Directorate  General  of  Civil Aviation (DGCA). No type certification is however required in the case of nano drones (up to 250-gram all-up weight) and  model  drones  made  for  research  and  recreation purposes.
- (iv) 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.
- (v) Authorisation of Remote  Pilot Training Organisations (RPTO) will be done by DGCA within specified time limits.

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