**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given in Lok Sabha on the 18th of December 2025 by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to questions regarding the expansion of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in Odisha, drone usage and manufacturing, and the government's regulatory framework for drones. It details initiatives taken to enhance regional air connectivity, promote drone manufacturing, and ensure national security. Key initiatives include the UDAN scheme, liberalized Drone Rules, and a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regional Air Connectivity in Odisha (UDAN Scheme):**
* Seven airports/airstrips in Odisha have been identified for RCS flights under the UDAN scheme.
* Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Utkela, and Jeypore airports have already been developed and operationalized.
* The UDAN scheme continues to expand via bidding rounds for more destinations.
* **Drone Regulation and Development:**
* The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued liberalized and simplified Drone Rules, 2021, for various drone activities.
* A certification scheme for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) was notified on January 26, 2022.
* A Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme was launched on September 30, 2021, to promote indigenous drone manufacturing.
* **Drone Regulatory Framework:**
* 142 type certificates have been granted to 95 Indian manufacturers for drones used in agriculture, mapping, inspection, surveillance, and logistics (as of December 15, 2025).
* Drone Rules, 2021, mandate type certification of drones, excluding Nano and R&D drones.
* Drone (Amendment) Rules in 2022, 2023, and 2024 ease business operations by removing the remote pilot license clause.
* An interactive airspace map on the Digital Sky platform classifies low-level airspace into red, yellow, and green zones.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Airports/Airstrips in Odisha**
* **Impact:** The UDAN scheme will further develop and expand the airport infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** To facilitate RCS flights and enhance regional air connectivity
**Stakeholder: Drone Manufacturers and Operators**
* **Impact:** The liberalized Drone Rules and the PLI scheme will encourage domestic drone manufacturing and operations, while regulatory oversight ensures safe and secure use.
* **Action Required:** Comply with the certification scheme and updated Drone Rules, and avail of the incentives provided under the PLI scheme.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Civil Aviation**
* **Impact:** Required to oversee implementation of UDAN scheme, Drone Rules, and PLI scheme, as well as enforce regulations for safe and secure drone operations.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor and refine the regulatory framework for drones, promote the growth of the domestic drone industry, and ensure compliance with safety and security standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN: A scheme to enhance regional air connectivity, focusing on developing unserved and underserved airports.
Drone Rules, 2021: Liberalized and simplified regulations for various drone activities in India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary government body responsible for aviation policy and regulations, including drones.
Odisha: The state where the expansion of the Regional Connectivity Scheme is being questioned.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme: A scheme to promote indigenous drone manufacturing in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2994
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18th December 2025 )
EXPANSION OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SCHEME
2994. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has taken initiatives to expand regional air connectivity in
Odisha beyond Bhubaneshwar under the UDAN scheme or any other scheme and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the current status of aviation infrastructure development in Odisha's tribal and coastal
regions;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any feasibility studies to boost drone and small
aircraft logistics in cyclone and flood-prone areas and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to encourage development and manufacture of Drones
in civil and defence sectors in view of the smooth operational capability of Drones in almost
all spheres of life like defence, commerce, agriculture etc. and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of defence units and civilian manufacturers who are contributing to the
development of defence and civil use of Drones in the country; and
(f) whether there is any Government watch over the use of this new tool/technology to ensure
national security and if so, the details thereof
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) & (b): Under the UDAN scheme, seven airports/airstrips in the state Odisha have been
identified for the development and operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) flights.
Out of these, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Utkela, and Jeypore have already been developed and
operationalized.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN is an ongoing scheme wherein bidding rounds
are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations and routes under the scheme.
Revival / up-gradation of unserved and underserved airports is undertaken upon its
identification through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator (SAO).
(c) to (f): Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued the liberalised & simplified Drone Rules,
2021 for various Drone activities in India.
Further, to promote indigenous drone manufacturing in India, Ministry of Civil Aviation
notified the certification scheme for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) on 26th January, 2022
and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme on 30th September 2021.As on 15 December 2025, 142 type certificates have been granted to a total of 95 Indian
manufacturers by DGCA for various applications such as Agricultural, mapping, Inspection,
surveillance and logistic purposes.
The Government has put in place a comprehensive regulatory framework for conduct of safe
and efficient use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
The measures taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation include:
- Notification of the Drone Rules, 2021 (25 August 2021), mandating type certification of
drones under the UAS certification scheme (26 January 2022), except for Nano and R&D
drones.
- Subsequent Drone (Amendment) Rules notified in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for further ease of
doing business by removing the remote pilot license clause and facilitated remote pilot
training organization itself to impart and issue Remote Pilot Certificate.
- Provision of an interactive airspace map on the Digital Sky platform, classifying low-level
airspace into red, yellow and green zones.
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