Parliament Question: Drone integration and green fuel policy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2569 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16th March 2026 DRONE INTEGRATION AND GREEN FUEL POLICY 2569. SMT KIRAN CHOUDHRY DR. PARMAR JASHVANTHSINH SALAMSINH SHRI ADITYA PRASAD SHRI SHAMBHU SHARAN PATEL SMT SEEMA DWIVEDI SHRI MAYANKKUMAR NAYAK SHRI NARHARI AMIN SHRI LAHAR SINGH SIROYA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the manner in which the reduction of GST on drones to 5 per cent in late 2025 has impacted the adoption of drone-as-a-service models in the agricultural and logistics sectors; (b) whether Government is on track to notify the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy to meet the 1 per cent blending target mandate starting in 2027; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) the progress made in the Namo Drone Didi initiative; and (e) the number of women self-help groups trained successfully as drone pilots as of February, 2026? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) The Government of India has taken a significant step towards strengthening farm mechanization by reducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) slab on agricultural machinery, including drones, from 12-18% to 5%. This measure directly benefits farmers across the country, particularly those availing support under various farm mechanization assistance programs. The reduction in GST has lowered the purchase cost of drones, making them more affordable and accessible for farmers. When combined with financial support available under farm mechanization schemes, which provide subsidies of up to 40-50% for the purchase of agricultural machinery, including drones, farmers gain the dual advantage of lower taxation and financial assistance. Under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme, subsidies amount to 80% of the drone package cost, up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh per drone package.(b) and (c) The Government has approved indicative blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in traditional ATF, initially for international flights. Public sector Oil Marketing Companies are actively engaged in achieving the stated blending targets. The Government has also initiated steps for formulation of a SAF Policy. (d) and (e) Namo Drone Didi Yojana (NDDY) was approved by the Government as a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore for the period from Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 to FY 2025-26. The scheme aims to provide 15,000 agricultural drones to selected Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs). In 2023, 1,094 drones were distributed to SHGs by Lead Fertilizer Companies using their internal resources. Out of these 1,094 drones, 500 were distributed under the NDDY scheme. All SHG members have been provided training at Remote Pilot Training Organisations. ******