The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched the Namo Drone Didi scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The scheme aims to provide 15,000 drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to promote advanced agricultural technology, improve crop yields, reduce operational costs, and empower SHGs as drone service providers. The scheme provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 80% of the drone package cost, up to a maximum of Rs. 8.00 lakhs to selected women SHGs. The drone package includes 15 days of drone pilot training for one SHG member and 5 days of drone assistant training for another member/family member.
In 2023-24, Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) distributed 1094 drones to drone didis of SHGs, with 500 of these distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. Members of these SHGs have been trained as drone pilots at Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) authorized Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs). The state-wise distribution of the 1094 drones is detailed in Annexure I. The allocation of the remaining 14,500 drones to State Governments is indicated in Annexure II.
A study by the Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore, on the economics and business viability of drone operations, found that kisan drones cover one acre in 7-8 minutes, with flight times ranging from 5-20 minutes on a single battery charge. The drone package includes one standard battery set and four additional battery sets. The study also highlighted transportation issues faced by 42.68% of Drone Didis, particularly in the South (78.82%), due to the absence of utility vehicles. To address this, financial assistance of 80% is provided under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) for the purchase of multi-utility machines for drone transport. The study indicated that drone adoption has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural practices, and increased income opportunities for women in rural communities.
The state-wise distribution of drones and drone pilot training provided is listed in Annexure I, while the state-wise allocation of the 14,500 drones under the scheme is detailed in Annexure II.
This information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur.
Key Entities Referenced
Namo Drone Didi: A Central Sector Scheme providing 15,000 drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Women Self Help Groups: Groups of women who will receive drones and training under the Namo Drone Didi scheme to act as drone service providers.
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The government ministry responsible for the implementation of the Drone Didi Scheme.
Central Financial Assistance: Financial aid provided to selected women SHGs, covering 80% of the drone package cost, up to Rs. 8.00 lakhs.
Lead Fertilizer Companies: Companies that have distributed drones to drone didis of SHGs using their internal resources.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: The organization that authorizes Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTOs) where SHG members are trained as drone pilots.
Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka: The organization that conducted a study on the economics and business viability of drone operations under the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization: A scheme under which financial assistance is provided to Women SHGs identified under Namo Drone Didi scheme for purchase of Multiutility machines.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
IMPLEMENTATION OF DRONE DIDI SCHEME
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has approved ‘Namo Drone Didi’ as Central Sector Scheme for providing 15,000 drones to
the Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-
26. The major objectives of the scheme is to promote advance technology in agriculture for improved
efficiency, enhanced crop yield & reduced cost of operation and to empower SHGs as drone service providers
for increasing their income and providing livelihood support to them. Under this scheme, Central Financial
Assistance (CFA) @ 80% of the cost of drone package up to a maximum of Rs. 8.00 lakhs is provided to the
selected women SHGs. 15 days drone pilot training for one of the members of SHGs and 5 days drone
assistant training to other member/family member of SHGs is provided as a part of drone package.
Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 1094 drones to drone didis of SHGs in 2023-24
using their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones, 500 drones have been distributed under
the Namo Drone Didi Scheme. The State-wise distribution of 1094 drones is attached at Annexure -
I. Members of these SHGs have been trained as drone pilots at various Remote Pilot Training
Organizations (RPTOs) authorized by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The allocation
of remaining 14500 drones has been informed to the State Governments as indicated in Annexure-
II.
Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bangalore have carried out a
study on economics and business viability of drone operations on the 500 drones distributed by
LFCs under Namo Drone Didi scheme. The findings indicates that kisan drones cover an area of
one acre in 7-8 minutes and the flight time on a single battery charge of the kisan drones of various
manufacturers ranged from 5-20 minutes. The drone package under Namo Drone Didi scheme
include one standard battery set and additional four battery sets.
The study report also indicate that, where the utility vehicles were not provided with the drones
supplied by LFCs, 42.68 per cent of the Drone Didis faced transportation-related issues, with the
South (78.82%) being the most affected. 68.66 per cent drone didis also reported that hiring a
transport vehicle was costly. To address the drone transport issue, a provision has been made
under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to provide financial assistance @ 80% to
the Women SHGs identified under Namo Drone Didi scheme for purchase of Multi-utility machines,
which are also used as drone transport. The study also indicate that the SHGs 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-I
State-wise number of drones distributed to SHGs by the LFCs in 2023-24 and the members of SHGs given
drone pilot training
No. of Drones No. of members of SHGs
S. No State Name
distributed given drone pilot training
1. Andhra Pradesh 108 108
2. Assam 28 28
3. Bihar 32 324. Chhattisgarh 15 15
5. Goa 1 1
6. Gujarat 58 58
7. Haryana 102 102
8. Himachal Pradesh 4 4
9. J&K 2 2
10. Jharkhand 15 15
11. Karnataka 145 145
12. Kerala 51 51
13. Madhya Pradesh 89 89
14. Maharashtra 60 60
15. Odisha 16 16
16. Punjab 57 57
17. Rajasthan 40 40
18 Tamil Nadu 44 44
19. Telangana 81 81
20. Uttar Pradesh 128 128
21. Uttarakhand 3 3
22. West Bengal 15 15
Total 1094 1094
Annexure-II
State-wise Allocation of 14500 Drones under Namo Drone Didi Scheme
Allocation of Drones
S. No. States
(Numbers)
1 Andhra Pradesh 440
2 Arunachal Pradesh 10
3 Assam 183
4 Bihar 999
5 Chhattisgarh 361
6 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 10
7 Goa 10
8 Gujarat 1024
9 Haryana 583
10 Himachal Pradesh 75
11 Jammu and Kashmir 134
12 Jharkhand 168
13 Karnataka 82414 Kerala 82
15 Madhya Pradesh 1066
16 Maharashtra 1612
17 Meghalaya 23
18 Mizoram 10
19 Nagaland 10
20 Odisha 457
21 Puducherry 10
22 Punjab 1021
23 Rajasthan 1070
24 Tamil Nadu 479
25 Telangana 381
26 Tripura 27
27 Uttar Pradesh 2236
28 Uttarakhand 102
29 West Bengal 1093
Total 14500
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur
in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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RC/ KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2149706)