**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the drone manufacturing sector in India, to be answered on December 4th, 2025. It outlines the steps taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA to promote drone manufacturing, register drones, track unregistered drones, and regulate drone operations in various sectors. Key initiatives include the implementation of the PLI scheme and the issuance of Drone Rules 2021.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Drone Manufacturing Promotion:**
* Implemented Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme (2021-22 to 2023-24) for drone and component manufacturing.
* Notification of Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft, 2022, to certify indigenous drone models.
* **Drone Registration and Tracking:**
* The Unique Identification Number (UIN) for registered drones is generated via an automated process on the DGCA's eGCA portal and instantly issued.
* As of November 26th, 2025, 69 out of 94 type certificate holders have received a certificate for UAS models designed for agriculture.
* Drone Rules 2021 require all drones to be registered and assigned a UIN for operation. Transfer and de-registration also require UIN details.
* Violation of registration and UIN rules may result in cancellation, suspension, and fines up to one lakh rupees.
* **Drone Operation Regulation:**
* Indian airspace is segregated into red, yellow, and green zones (Drone Rules 2021).
* Drone operation in red or yellow zones requires prior permission from the Central Government and the relevant Air Traffic Control Authority.
* Violation of airspace rules is a cognizable offense under Drone Rules 2021.
* **Promotion of Drones Across Sectors:**
* Liberalized Drone Rules, 2021 were issued on August 25th, 2021, to ease doing business.
* As of November 26th, 2025, 141 type certificates have been granted for agricultural mapping, inspection, surveillance, and logistics.
* The amended Drone Rules 2021 eliminated the mandatory requirement of passport for the RPC as well as registration and de-registration/transfer of drone.
* No permission is required in green zones. Permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC) is needed for yellow zones. Permission of Ministry of Civil Aviation and red zone owners are needed for red zones.
* Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft, 2022 was published for a global certification and accreditation framework.
* Almost 90% of Indian airspace is now designated as green zones for drone operations without permission.
* As of November 26th, 2025, 37,298 drones have been registered and provided UINs, 35,448 Remote Pilot Certificates (RPCs) have been issued, and 226 Remote Pilot Training Organizations are approved by the DGCA.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Drone Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Benefit from the PLI scheme and certification framework, leading to increased manufacturing and sales.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to certification requirements for indigenous drone models.
**Stakeholder: Drone Operators**
* **Impact:** Must register drones and obtain UINs, comply with airspace regulations, and obtain permissions for red and yellow zones.
* **Action Required:** Register drones, obtain UINs, adhere to airspace rules, and seek necessary permissions.
**Stakeholder: Remote Pilots**
* **Impact:** Need to obtain Remote Pilot Certificates (RPCs) and adhere to operational guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Obtain RPCs and comply with operational guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Civil Aviation**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the regulations and promotional schemes.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor the drone sector and adjust regulations as needed.
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the registration, certification, and regulation of drones.
* **Action Required:** Maintain the eGCA portal, issue UINs and RPCs, and enforce drone regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Drone Rules, 2021: The primary regulatory framework governing the operation, registration, and usage of drones in India.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulator responsible for the efficient and effective registration of drones and implementation of the Drone Rules, 2021.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for promoting the drone manufacturing sector and implementing various initiatives related to drones.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme: Scheme implemented to promote manufacturing of drones and drone components in India.
Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft, 2022: Scheme to enable certification of indigenous drone models.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 910
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
DRONE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
910. DR. K SUDHAKAR
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the steps taken to promote drone manufacturing sector of the country; (b) the
steps taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for efficient and
effective registration of drones in the country;
(c) the total number of drone companies exclusively certified for agriculture sector
in the country;
(d) whether there is any mechanism to track unregistered drones in the country and
if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard; (e) the guidelines
issued to ensure that drones are not flown in restricted spaces in the country and the
manner in which these spaces are identified and classified; and
(f) the steps taken to promote drones that can be used for agriculture, national
security and scientific learning?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) To promote drone manufacturing sector of the country, Ministry of Civil
Aviation has undertaken various initiatives:-
(i) Implemented Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme between 2021-22 to
2023-24, to promote manufacturing of drones and drone components in India.(ii) Notification of Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft, 2022 to enable
certification of indigenous drone models.
(b) The process of generation of Unique Identification Number (UIN) of registered
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) made a trust-based automated procedure on the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA's) eGCA portal. It instantly issues a
UIN registration certificate with a QR code for verification, while simultaneously
listing the UIN on the DGCA website for online verification.
(c) As of 26th November 2025, 69 out of 94 type certificate holders have received
certificate for UAS models designed for agriculture.
(d) To record and track the ownership of UAS, Rule 14 of the Drone Rules,2021
requires that all drones be registered and are assigned a UIN for operation. Further,
Rule 17 and 18 of the Drone Rules 2021 mandate UIN details before transfer and
de-registration respectively, and effecting the same in authority's record. Any
violation of these provisions is liable to penal action of Cancellation or suspension
along with fines up to one lakh rupees.
(e) In accordance with Rule 19 of the Drone Rules 2021, the entire Indian airspace
are segregated into red zone, yellow zone and green zone. As per Rule 22 read with
Rule 3(I) of the Drone Rules, 2021, no person shall operate a UAS in red zone or
yellow zone without prior permission from the Central Government and the
concerned Air Traffic Control Authority. Violation of the same is a cognizable
offence under Rule 49 of Drone Rules 2021.
(f) The steps taken by Ministry of Civil Aviation to promote drones across various
sector including agriculture, national security and scientific learning are as under:
(i) Promulgated liberalized Drone Rules, 2021 on 25th August 2021 to enhance
the overall ease of doing business. As of 26th November 2025, 141 type certificates
have been granted to Indian manufacturers for various applications such as
Agricultural mapping, Inspection, Surveillance and logistic purposes.
(ii) Amended Drone Rules 2021 eliminating the mandatory requirement of
passport for the RPC as well as registration and de-registration/transfer of drone.
(iii) No permission is required in green zones. Permission of concerned Air Traffic
Control (ATC) is required for operating drones in yellow zone. Permission of
Ministry of Civil Aviation and the concerned red zone owners would be required for
operating drones in red zone.(iv) Published the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft, 2022 to establish
a global certification and accreditation framework for drones that would scale, with
appropriate safeguards, the commercial application of various drone technologies.
(v) The Indian Airspace was opened for drone operations by making almost90%
of the Airspace as green zones where operations could be undertaken without any
permission.
(vi) As of 26th November, 2025, a total of 37,298 drones have been registered and
provided Unique Identification Number (UIN). Additionally, 35,448 Remote Pilot
Certificates (RPCs) have been issued. Furthermore, the DGCA has approved 226
Remote Pilot Training Organisations.
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