Lok Sabha Question No. 5223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Target achieved under Namo Drone Didi Scheme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5223 ANSWERED ON 24/03/2026

## TARGET ACHIEVED UNDER NAMO DRONE DIDI SCHEME

## 5223. Shri Sasikanth Senthil:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has achieved the target of training women from  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs)  under  the  'Namo  Drone  Didi' scheme for agricultural services, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of drones currently operational under the management of these women-led groups, State-wise;
- (c) whether there is a provision for providing interest-free loans and technical  support  for  the  maintenance  and  repair  of  these drones in remote villages, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  increase  in  average  household  income reported by the participating SHGs since the inception of the programme?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Government has approved 'Namo Drone Didi' as Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26 for providing drones to the selected Women Self Help  Groups  (SHGs)  for  providing  rental  services  to  farmers  for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides). Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs. 8.0 lakhs is provided  to  the  women  SHGs  for  purchase  of  drones.  The  Cluster Level  Federations  (CLFs)  of  SHGs  may  raise  the  balance  amount (total  cost  of  procurement  minus  subsidy)  as  loan  under  National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility (AIF) with interest subvention @ 3%.

Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, the drones are supplied as a package,  which  consists  of  basic  drone  with  spray  assembly  for

spraying  liquid  fertilizers  and  pesticides.  The  package  includes additional 4 spare battery sets, one spare propeller set, nozzle set, dual  channel  fast  battery  charger,  battery  charger  hub,  15  days training for drone pilot, drone assistant training, one-year comprehensive insurance, 2 years annual maintenance contract and applicable GST. The 15 days drone pilot training programme include compulsory training for securing drone pilot licence, preparation for flying,  minor  repair  and  maintenance  and  hands  on  practice  for handling drones for spraying of pesticides and liquid fertilizers.

As per the information provided by the Department of Fertilizers, Lead Fertilizer  Companies (LFCs) have distributed 500 drones under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme to drone didis of SHGs in 2023-24. All these drone  didis have  been  provided  training at the  Remote  Pilot Organisations (RPTOs) authorised by DGCA. The State wise details are indicated in Annexure.

Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore  have  carried  out  a  study  on  economics  and  business viability of drone operations on these 500 drones provided by LFCs under Namo Drone Didi scheme. The study indicates that the SHGs earlier were primarily engaged in agriculture and allied activities and the  drones  provided  to  them  has  expanded  their  niche  to  modern agricultural  practices  through  drone  technology,  enhancing  their efficiency  and  productivity.  Overall,  the  adoption  of  drones  has diversified  SHG  activities,  improved  agricultural  practices,  and increased income opportunities for women in rural communities.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PARTs (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5223 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2026 REGARDING 'Target achieved under Namo Drone Didi Scheme '

State wise details of SHGs who have been provided drones by the LFCs

| S.No   | State Name       |   No. of SHGs |
|--------|------------------|---------------|
| 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   |            34 |
| 12     | Maharashtra      |            30 |
| 13     | Odisha           |            12 |
| 14     | Punjab           |            23 |
| 15     | Rajasthan        |            19 |
| 16     | Tamil Nadu       |            17 |
| 17     | Telangana        |            72 |
| 18     | Uttar Pradesh    |            32 |
| 19     | Uttarakhand      |             3 |
| 20     | West Bengal      |             7 |
|        | Grand Total      |           500 |

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