After the liberalisation of the Drone Rule in 2021, the industry received a significant boost with the announcement of Drone Shakti in the Union Budget. Drone Shakti will be facilitated by start-ups offering 'drone as a service,' according to the government.
Across the board, the country will see the usage of big unmanned aircraft systems weighing more than 150 kilos. Kisan Drones are already being utilised for crop assessments, land records, and insecticide spraying, and are projected to usher in a new era of technology in agriculture and farming. Drones are also employed in railway security surveillance systems.
Drones were also used to deliver Covid-19 vaccinations in India. The ICMR's pilot project is also being implemented in Manipur, Nagaland, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Drones are also being used to monitor hotspots and containment zones for Covid-19.
NEW RULES FOR THE USE OF DRONES
The needed number of forms was also decreased from 25 to 5, as were the charge categories, which were cut from 72 to 4.
The new drone strategy released by the Centre in August 2021 aimed to usher in a new era of super-normal growth while balancing safety and security concerns. These guidelines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, are based on trust, self-certification, and non-intrusive surveillance.
"The new drone laws bring in a landmark time for this sector in India," Prime Minister Modi remarked, calling it a watershed moment. The guidelines are built on the principles of self-certification and trust. The number of approvals, compliance procedures, and entry obstacles have all been cut dramatically.'
Several approvals, such as the unique authorisation number, unique prototype identification number, certificate of production, and airworthiness, were lifted.