Drones
105 posts in this category.
Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) ETA for drones in India: the Wireless Planning Wing process
WPC ETA for drones in India is the wireless approval that civilian unmanned aircraft must clear before DGCA Type Certification, DGFT import authorisation, or eGCA registration will progress. Drones are excluded from the self-declaration shortcut and route through Regional Licensing Offices of the WPC Wing on the Saral Sanchar portal.
Read article →Drone Import Rules in India: Why DJI Is Effectively Banned
India prohibits the import of complete, ready-to-fly drones (Completely Built-Up or CBU units), except for approved research and development, defence, or security purposes with the required government authorisations. However, individual drone components can be imported freely without special import licences, supporting domestic drone manufacturing and assembly.
Read article →Who Regulates Drones in India? DGCA, MoCA, and the Complete Regulatory Framework
Drone regulation in India is governed by multiple authorities. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) develops drone policy and legislation, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulates operations by issuing certificates and enforcing the Drone Rules 2021. Other agencies, including MHA, MoD, BCAS, DGFT, WPC, and AAI, oversee airspace, security, imports, communications, and enforcement.
Read article →GeM portal for drone procurement: how India buys drones through GeM
GeM portal for drone procurement is now the mandatory procurement route for ministries, public sector units, AIIMS institutions, and state departments buying drones or drone-as-a-service in India. Rule 149 of the General Financial Rules framework converted GeM from a marketplace into a legally binding procurement gateway for unmanned systems, payloads, and drone operations.
Read article →Drone delivery in India: corridors, commercial economics, and the policy roadmap
Drone delivery in India has moved from sandbox trials into a regulated, corridor-bound logistics layer. India crossed two million cumulative drone deliveries by end-2025, six BVLOS corridors are operational, and the Civil Drone Bill released on 16 September 2025 has shifted focus toward nationwide compliance architecture and commercial scale.
Read article →Anti-drone systems in India: how they detect rogue UAVs
Anti-drone systems in India now combine radar, radio-frequency sensing, electro-optical imaging, and acoustic detection inside an AI-driven command layer. This explainer walks the detect-track-classify-mitigate chain, the indigenous platforms validated during Operation Sindoor, and what the sensor stack catches before a rogue UAV reaches a protected site.
Read article →How to register a drone on Digital Sky: the eGCA UIN walkthrough
Drone registration on Digital Sky now runs through the eGCA portal after the DGCA migrated core drone services in July 2025. The updated workflow uses Form D-2 for UIN issuance and BharatKosh for payments. This walkthrough covers the documents, the seven on-portal steps, BharatKosh failure modes, rejection reasons, and how UIN connects to NPNT flight permissions in India.
Read article →Namo Drone Didi Yojana: How India's Women-led Drone Scheme Works
The Namo Drone Didi Yojana is a Government of India central sector scheme that empowers women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by providing agricultural drones, financial assistance, and certified pilot training. The scheme enables SHGs to offer drone-based crop spraying and agricultural services on a rental basis, helping farmers adopt precision farming while creating sustainable income opportunities for rural women.
Read article →Drones in Agriculture in India: Regulations, Crop Spraying, and Economics
Agriculture drones in India, commonly known as Kisan Drones, are transforming precision farming by enabling efficient crop spraying, fertilizer application, seed broadcasting, and crop health monitoring. Equipped with GPS, multispectral sensors, and automated flight systems, these drones help farmers reduce input costs, improve productivity, and support data-driven farm management while expanding the adoption of indigenous drone technology.
Read article →BVLOS Operations in India: Corridors, Approvals, and the Compliance Stack
BVLOS operations in India remain the highest-value, lowest-served operational class inside the country's unmanned aviation framework. Six corridors are operational out of approximately 100 planned routes. This article maps the approval pathway, corridor inventory, detect-and-avoid stack, pilot endorsement, and the regulatory direction shaping long-range drone operations across India.
Read article →Geo-fencing and Remote ID for Indian drones in 2026
Geo-fencing drone India compliance now depends on firmware behaviour, Schedule II airworthiness requirements, and operator-side enforcement discipline. Drone Remote ID India policy remains incomplete despite mandatory geo-fencing under Drone Rules 2021. The gap matters more after the retirement of hard-stop commercial geo-fence systems in late 2025.
Read article →Drone Penalties and Fines in India: Complete Guide to Rules, Enforcement & Compliance
Drone penalties and fines in India now extend beyond administrative challans into aviation enforcement, privacy liability, and criminal exposure. A single unauthorised flight can trigger parallel action under Drone Rules 2021, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam 2024, and the Digital Personal Data Protection framework. The enforcement process matters as much as the fine itself.
Read article →Drone Insurance in India: The Complete Guide to Costs, Coverage & Civil Drone Bill Liability
Drone insurance is mandatory in India for drones heavier than 250g, including Micro, Small, Medium, and Large categories, under the Drone Rules 2021. Operators must have third-party liability coverage for property damage, injury, or accidents caused during drone operations. Basic third-party insurance plans usually start around ₹4,000 to ₹5,000. Comprehensive drone insurance with wider coverage can cost ₹10,000 or more depending on the drone type and operational risk.
Read article →Remote Pilot Certificate in India: Who Needs It, Who Doesn't, and How to Get One
A Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) is the official certification required to legally operate eligible drones for commercial purposes in India. Issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) through the eGCA platform after training at an authorised Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO), the certificate remains valid for 10 years. Applicants must be 18–65 years old, have passed at least the 10th standard, and possess a valid Aadhaar card or passport.
Read article →Different Types of Drones and Their Uses by Design, Weight, Range & Mission
Drones (UAVs) are mainly classified into four types based on their structure and flight capability. These include multi-rotor drones, fixed-wing drones, single-rotor drones, and hybrid VTOL drones. Multi-rotor drones are the most common and offer stable, agile flight. Fixed-wing drones support long-range and high-endurance missions. Single-rotor drones are used for heavy payload operations. Hybrid VTOL drones combine vertical take-off with efficient forward flight for versatile missions.
Read article →What Are FPV Drones? How They Work, Types, and India Use Cases in 2026
An FPV (First-Person View) drone is an unmanned aircraft that provides pilots with real-time video from an onboard camera. The video feed is transmitted directly to FPV goggles or a compatible display. This creates an immersive cockpit-like flying experience for the pilot. FPV drones are commonly used for high-speed racing, freestyle flying, aerial photography, and dynamic cinematic filming.
Read article →What is Kamikaze Drone and How Does it Work
A kamikaze drone, also known as a loitering munition, is a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is designed to locate, track, and destroy targets by crashing into them and detonating an onboard warhead. These drones combine surveillance, target identification, and strike capability in a single system. They are often operated remotely, allowing high-precision attacks at lower cost compared to traditional missile systems.
Read article →NPNT in India Explained: No Permission No Takeoff for Drones
NPNT (No Permission – No Take-off) is a drone security framework used in India. It ensures compliant drones receive digital flight authorisation before take-off. The framework uses software and hardware controls to prevent unauthorised flights. Each flight requires the necessary digital clearance based on the applicable airspace and operational requirements. NPNT is designed to strengthen drone safety, airspace compliance, and regulatory enforcement.
Read article →DGCA Drone Type Certification Process in India 2026
In India, a Drone Type Certificate (TC) is a DGCA approval confirming a drone model meets prescribed safety standards. Issued under the Drone Rules, 2021, it verifies the UAS model’s compliance with applicable airworthiness and technical requirements. Type Certification applies to eligible drones manufactured, imported, or operated in India. Authorised testing entities evaluate the drone before the DGCA grants Type Certificate approval.
Read article →How to Read India's Drone Airspace Zone Map Before Every Flight
India’s drone airspace is divided into three zones: Green, Yellow, and Red - managed via the Digital Sky Platform. Green zones (up to 400 ft) require no permission for sub-500kg drones. Yellow zones (near airports/controlled airspaces) require authorisation, and Red zones are strictly prohibited. ~90% of Indian airspace is open as green zones.
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