Drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) — Overview

A drone or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) consists of an unmanned aircraft (UA) and its associated elements including communication links, components, and equipment to control the aircraft remotely or autonomously. Drones operate across a wide range from sub-kilogram hobbyist devices to multi-tonne military platforms.

Classification under Drone Rules 2021

India classifies drones by maximum all-up weight (AUW):

Category AUW Primary Use
Nano Up to 250 g Hobby, photography
Micro 250 g – 2 kg Surveillance, agriculture
Small 2 kg – 25 kg Delivery, survey, agriculture
Medium 25 kg – 150 kg Cargo, industrial
Large Above 150 kg Defence, heavy cargo

Drone Rules, 2021 — Liberalisation

The Drone Rules, 2021 (notified 25 August 2021, replacing the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules 2021 and earlier 2014 regulations) represented a major policy liberalisation:

  • Reduced approvals: From 25 forms/types of approvals in UAS Rules 2021 to just 5.
  • No security clearance required for Indian drone manufacturers and operators.
  • Digital Sky Platform: A unified online platform for:
    • Drone registration and deregistration.
    • Unique Identification Number (UIN) generation.
    • Drone Pilot licence application.
    • Real-time airspace management (Green, Yellow, Red zones).
  • Green Zone: Automatic permission for drone operations up to 400 ft, without prior approval.
  • No pilot licence required for nano drones or for research institutions.
  • BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) approvals: Conditional approvals extended to enable logistics, agriculture, and surveillance applications over longer ranges.

Drone Shakti Initiative

The Drone Shakti initiative (announced in Union Budget 2022-23) aims to promote drone-as-a-service (DrAAS) through start-ups, create drone hubs, and integrate drones into agricultural and logistics ecosystems.

PLI Scheme for Drones

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Drones and Drone Components was approved by the Government for implementation during FY 2022-23 to FY 2024-25, with a total financial outlay of ₹120 crore. Key features:

  • Incentive rate: 20% of the value addition by the manufacturer.
  • Eligibility: Indian-owned drone and drone component manufacturers with a minimum turnover.
  • PLI per beneficiary is capped at 25% of total annual outlay to ensure wider distribution.
  • Aimed at making India a global drone manufacturing hub.

Applications of Drones in India

Agriculture

  • Precision pesticide and fertiliser spraying (reduces chemical use by 40–60% vs. conventional).
  • Crop health monitoring using multispectral imaging.
  • Seed broadcasting in difficult terrain (jhum lands, hilly areas).
  • Scheme: Kisan Drone (PM Kisan Drone scheme to support farmer drone adoption).

Logistics and Delivery

  • Medicine delivery to remote areas — pilots in Telangana (Medicines from the Sky), Arunachal Pradesh.
  • E-commerce last-mile delivery trials.

Disaster Management

  • Search and rescue in flood, earthquake zones.
  • Real-time situational awareness for disaster response.

Defence

  • DRDO-developed drones: TAPAS (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance), Rustom-II (MALE drone), SWITCH (for MARCOS special forces).
  • India's Pinaka-armed drone variants under development.
  • Armed forces import Heron drones from Israel and acquired MQ-9B Sea Guardian from the US.

Infrastructure and Surveying

  • SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme uses drones for rural land mapping.

India's New Space Economy — Key Institutions

IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre)

IN-SPACe was established in June 2020 as an autonomous body under the Department of Space to:

  • Serve as a single-window clearance mechanism for private sector space activities.
  • Authorise, supervise, and promote non-government entities (NGEs) across the space value chain.
  • Share ISRO infrastructure (launchpads, testing facilities) with private players.
  • Promote India as a destination for global space investment.

NSIL (NewSpace India Limited)

NSIL, incorporated in 2019, is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and commercial arm of ISRO. Its functions include:

  • Technology transfer to Indian industry for ISRO-developed systems.
  • Commercial satellite launches and leasing transponder capacity.
  • Enabling end-to-end commercial space activities.
  • Marketing ISRO launch services (PSLV, SSLV, GSLV Mk III) to international customers.

Space Sector FDI Liberalisation (2024)

On 21 February 2024, the Union Cabinet approved a revised FDI policy for the space sector permitting:

  • 100% FDI under automatic route for: manufacturing of satellite components, systems/sub-systems; ground segment and user segment manufacturing.
  • Up to 74% FDI under automatic route for satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products.
  • Up to 49% FDI under automatic route for launch vehicles and associated systems; creation of spaceports.
  • Investments beyond these thresholds require government approval.

This was a landmark liberalisation, breaking the historical state monopoly and opening India to global space capital.

Private Launch Vehicles — A New Era

Skyroot Aerospace — Vikram-S

On 18 November 2022, Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-S from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota — the first private rocket to launch from India (Mission Prarambh). The sub-orbital, single-stage solid rocket reached 88.8 km altitude and carried three customer payloads. The launch was authorised by IN-SPACe.

Agnikul Cosmos

Agnikul Cosmos is developing the Agnibaan launch vehicle, notable for using a single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine (AgniletTM) — a world first. It targets small satellite launches of up to 300 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Other Private Space Firms

  • Pixxel: Earth observation satellites with hyperspectral imaging.
  • Bellatrix Aerospace: In-space propulsion systems.
  • Dhruva Space: Satellite deployment and on-orbit servicing.

India's Space Economy — Targets

A FICCI-EY Report projects India's space economy to grow from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033, targeting 8% of the global space market. Key growth segments:

  • SATCOM: Projected at $14.8 billion by 2033.
  • Earth Observation: $8 billion by 2033.
  • Navigation: NAVIC-based services.

The Indian Space Policy, 2023 (notified June 2023) provides the overarching regulatory framework delineating roles of ISRO (R&D, national missions), NSIL (commercial arm), and IN-SPACe (regulator/promoter for private sector). ISRO transitions from operator to facilitator.

Key Regulatory and Policy Documents

Document Year Significance
Drone Rules 2021 Replaced UAS Rules 2021; liberalised approvals
PLI Scheme for Drones 2021 ₹120 crore outlay; 2022-23 to 2024-25
Space Sector FDI Policy 2024 100% FDI (auto) for satellite components
Indian Space Policy 2023 IN-SPACe as regulator; ISRO as R&D body
Drone Shakti 2022-23 Budget DrAAS; drone start-up ecosystem

Exam Strategy & Key Terms

For Prelims: Drone Rules 2021 notified 25 August 2021; PLI scheme ₹120 crore; 5 drone categories (nano to large); Vikram-S launched 18 November 2022 (first private rocket from India); IN-SPACe established June 2020; NSIL (PSU commercial arm of ISRO); India's space economy target $44 billion by 2033; FDI in space (100% for components — auto route, February 2024).

For Mains (GS3 — Science and Technology / Economy): Significance of Drone Rules 2021 liberalisation for agriculture and logistics; India's space sector privatisation rationale; role of IN-SPACe as single-window regulator; India's private launch vehicle ecosystem; challenges — technology gaps, finance, global competition; geopolitical dimensions of space economy.

Key Terms: UAS, BVLOS, Digital Sky Platform, DrAAS, Drone Shakti, PLI (Drones), IN-SPACe, NSIL, Vikram-S, Agnikul, Agnibaan, SATCOM, Indian Space Policy 2023, FICCI-EY Space Economy Report, Kisan Drone, SVAMITVA.