Drone Blogs

How India’s New Drone Rules Are Reshaping the Industry!

Posted by

Pradipta V Mukherjee

July 22, 2025

On July 22, 2025

Over the past few years, India’s drone industry has experienced a significant transformation, largely due to the government’s progressive policy changes. India has created opportunities for innovation, investment, and quicker adoption of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in a variety of industries with the implementation of the Drone Rules 2021 and its updates. In addition to making drone ownership and operation simpler, these new rules are establishing India as a future center for drone technology worldwide.

Table of Contents

A Shift From Restriction to Innovation

Drone operations were previously severely restricted in India. Obtaining approvals took a long time, involved several ministries, and was perceived as being very bureaucratic. But the government’s drone policy for 2021 was a watershed.

The previous Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021 were superseded by the Drone Rules, 2021, which greatly liberalized the framework:

There were only five forms instead of twenty-five.
Simplified and more reasonably priced fee structure.
Drones under 2 kg used for non-commercial purposes do not require a pilot’s license.
A digital sky platform was launched to expedite airspace maps and permissions.

Without needless red tape, these reforms greatly facilitated the use of drones by businesses, farmers, researchers, and startups.

Boosting Indigenous Manufacturing

In 2021, the government launched a PLI (Production Linked Incentive) program for drone and drone component manufacturers in support of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative. The program offers financial incentives to drone manufacturing companies in India, with a three-year investment of ₹120 crore.

Many Indian startups have experienced exponential growth as a result, raising capital and growing their businesses. The Ministry of Civil Aviation projects that the drone manufacturing sector will increase 15 times, from ₹60 crore in 2020 to ₹900 crore by 2026.

Drones in Agriculture, Logistics, and Beyond

The agriculture industry stands to gain the most from the new regulations. The use of drones for fertilizer and pesticide spraying as well as crop health monitoring is being actively promoted by the Indian government. The government promised to provide Custom Hiring Centers operated by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with financial support of up to ₹10 lakh per drone in 2022. The goal of this action is to encourage small and marginal farmers to adopt.

In logistics, businesses are testing drone deliveries of medical supplies in isolated regions of Telangana and Uttarakhand. Drone-based last-mile delivery has also drawn interest from Zomato and Dunzo.

The demand from the defense, infrastructure, and agriculture sectors is expected to propel the growth of the Indian drone market, which is expected to reach $1.8 billion by 2026, according to a report by PwC India.

National Drone Policy Is Attracting Global Players

India is now a desirable location for foreign drone companies as a result of the liberalized regulations. For example, to broaden their training and services ecosystem, the Indian drone service provider teamed up with international tech companies. International drone manufacturers are also interested in local production and partnerships under the Make-in-India clause.

In a clear indication of policy support, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bharat Drone Mahotsav in February 2022. This massive event featured innovations from more than 70 drone startups and government-backed projects.

Creating Jobs and Skilled Workforce

The growing drone industry is also helping to create jobs. Over 1 lakh drone-related jobs could be created in India over the next three to five years, according to estimates from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

In order to facilitate this, the government has authorized more than 30 Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs) nationwide that provide training courses that have been approved by the DGCA. Trained pilots are now in great demand in emergency services, filmmaking, infrastructure surveying, and agriculture due to the growing demand for drone services.

The Future Is Sky-High

India’s drone journey is at a turning point. Drones are becoming useful tools that add real value instead of being futuristic devices thanks to strong regulations, a thriving startup culture, and growing real-world applications.

This trend will only pick up speed as 5G, AI, and drone technologies come together. Drones are already demonstrating their value, whether it is for mapping farmlands with centimeter-level precision or transporting life-saving medications to isolated villages. And the skies are now an opportunity rather than a limit because of India’s new drone regulations.

Pradipta V Mukherjee

CEO, Mavdrones

Pradipta V Mukherjee is the visionary CEO of Mavdrones & Drone Pathshala, driving innovation and growth in the drone industry. With a passion for advanced technology, he leads the company's strategic direction, ensuring Mavdrones stays at the forefront of drone solutions. Under his leadership, Mavdrones has achieved remarkable success, including winning the 'Best Innovation and Technology in Drone Industry' award from ASSOCHAM. Pradipta is committed to revolutionizing the industry through advanced UAV technology, fostering a culture of excellence and forward-thinking within the organization.