**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided to the Lok Sabha on December 16, 2025, regarding the "Namo Drone Didi Scheme." The scheme aims to provide drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to promote technology in agriculture. The scheme spans three years (2023-24 to 2025-26) with an outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores, and the state-wise drone distribution details are included.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Namo Drone Didi Scheme Overview:**
* Central Sector Scheme approved for providing drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
* Duration: 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26).
* Outlay: Rs. 1261 Crores.
* **Objectives of the Scheme:**
* Promote advanced technology in agriculture.
* Enhance crop yield and reduce operational costs.
* Empower Women SHGs as drone service providers to increase income.
* **Drone Distribution and Training:**
* 1094 drones distributed to SHGs by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in 2023-24 utilizing their internal resources.
* 500 drones distributed to SHGs under the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
* The drones are supplied as a package including 15 days training for one SHG member.
* Training covers drone flying, Drone Rules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), agricultural purpose, and minor repair and maintenance.
* **Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):**
* Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released SOPs for drone application with pesticide in December 2021.
* Revised SOPs in April 2023, which widened the potential use of Kisan Drones with pesticides.
* SOPs cover aspects like statutory provisions, flying permissions, area distance restrictions, drone registration, insurance, pilot certifications, and weather conditions.
* **Promotion by ICAR:**
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) actively promotes drone use through demonstrations.
* Financial support of Rs. 52.50 Crores under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).
* 40928 kisan drone demonstrations carried out on farmers' fields between 2023-24 and 2025-26.
* **Kerala Specifics:**
* 02 drones have been distributed to the State of Kerala under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.
* An allocation of 82 drones has been conveyed to the State of Kerala.
* The Committee at State is responsible for selection of appropriate clusters in particular States for drone usage.
* The State of Kerala has already constituted a committee involving various departments and institutions.
* **State-wise Drone Distribution**
* Annexure provides state-wise details of drones distributed.
* 500 drones have been distributed so far.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Women Self Help Groups (SHGs)
* **Impact**:
* Potential for increased income and livelihood support through drone service provision.
* Opportunity to adopt advanced technology in agriculture.
* Improved agricultural efficiency and reduced operational costs.
* **Action Required**:
* Participate in training programs for drone operation and maintenance.
* Adhere to SOPs for safe and effective drone usage.
* Coordinate with LFCs and pesticide companies for business opportunities.
**Stakeholder**: Farmers
* **Impact**:
* Access to advanced agricultural technology through drone services.
* Potential for enhanced crop yield and reduced operational costs.
* Participation in drone demonstrations and awareness programs.
* **Action Required**:
* Engage with SHGs and drone service providers for agricultural services.
* Adopt best practices for drone application in agriculture.
**Stakeholder**: Government of Kerala
* **Impact**:
* Implementation of the Namo Drone Didi Scheme at the state level.
* Coordination with various departments and institutions for effective scheme execution.
* **Action Required**:
* Form a committee with representatives from relevant departments and institutions.
* Ensure proper selection of SHGs and clusters for drone distribution.
* Oversee the implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Namo Drone Didi Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme to provide drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to promote technology in agriculture, improve income, and provide livelihood support.
Ministry of Rural Development: The ministry responsible for answering questions about the Namo Drone Didi Scheme and overseeing its implementation.
Kerala: A state where drone distribution under the scheme is specifically mentioned and where a state-level committee is responsible for the scheme's implementation.
Drone Rules: Refers to regulations governing drone flying, compliance with which is part of the training provided under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2540
ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025
NAMO DRONE DIDI SCHEME
2540. Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details and total number of drones distributed to women Self
Help Groups (SHGs) under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, State-
wise;
(b) the measures taken by the Government to create awareness
and train women SHGs to handle drones;
(c) the details of total expenditure incurred by the Government in
training and conducting these awareness campaigns;
(d) whether the Government will prioritise distributing drones to
women in the coastal belt of Kerala, which can enhance their
livelihood opportunities; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)
(a) to (c): Government approved Central Sector Scheme 'NAMO
DRONE DIDI' for providing Drones to the Women Self Help Groups
(SHGs), during the period of 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26) with an
outlay of Rs. 1261 Crores.
The major aims and objectives of the scheme is to promote
advance technology in agriculture for improved efficiency, enhanced
crop yield and reduced cost of operation and to empower Women Self
Help Groups (SHGs) as drone service providers for increasing their
income and providing livelihood support to them. 1094 drones have
been distributed to SHGs by the Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) in
2023-24 utilizing their internal resources. Out of these 1094 drones,
500 drones have been distributed to SHGs under Namo Drone Didi
Page 1 of 4scheme. The State-wise distribution of these drones is indicated in
Annexure.
The drones under Namo Drone Didi Scheme are supplied as a
package, which also include training for one of the members of the
SHGs for fifteen days. The training covers drone flying, understanding
provisions of Drone Rules, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for
nutrient and pesticide application, drone flying practice for
agriculture purpose and minor repair & maintenance of drones.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for drone application with
pesticide for crop protection and for spraying soil and crop nutrients
in agricultural, forestry, non-cropped areas etc. in December 2021
that provides concise instructions for effective and safe operations
of drones. It covers important aspects like statutory provisions, flying
permissions, area distance restrictions, weight classification,
overcrowded areas restrictions, drone registration, safety, insurance,
pilot certifications, operation plan, air flight zones, weather
conditions, operating instructions for pre, post and during operation,
emergency handling plan etc. SOPs for application of pesticides with
drones have also been released in April 2023, which has widened the
potential use of Kisan Drones with pesticides in 10 different crops
grown under diverse agro-climatic conditions. It includes information
for drone operations based on relevant parameters like temperature,
humidity, wind speed, terrain conditions and crop conditions/stages
etc.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is actively
promoting drone use in agriculture through widespread
demonstrations on the farmers' fields with financial support of Rs.
52.50 Crores under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization
(SMAM). During the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26, the institutions
of ICAR, Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
across the country had carried out 40928 kisan drone demonstrations
on farmers' fields on nutrients, fertilizers, chemicals (insect and pest)
applications following these SOPs and covering an area of 40918
hectare.
(d) & (e): Under Namo Drone Didi scheme, 02 numbers of drones
have been distributed in the State of Kerala. An allocation of 82
drones under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme has been conveyed to the
State of Kerala.
Page 2 of 4The Committee at State is responsible for selection of appropriate
clusters in particular States for drone usage, selection of the
progressive women SHGs under DAY - NRLM in the States in the
identified clusters for providing drones, selection of members of the
women SHGs for drone pilot and drone assistant training, assessment
of district-wise drone usage, identification of existing gap,
availability and future requirements of drone usage,
providing/ensuring business to selected Women SHGs in coordination
with the LFCs and Pesticide companies etc. The State of Kerala has
already constituted the committee under the Agriculture Production
Commissioner involving members from Department of Agriculture
Development and Farmers Welfare, Government of Kerala, Kerala
Agriculture University, Local Self Government Department, State
Mission Director -DAY-NRLM, Cooperative Societies Department,
Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore, National Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development (NABARD) and State level Bankers
Committee.
*****
Page 3 of 4ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (a) to (c) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2540 ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025
REGARDING “Namo Drone Didi Scheme”
State-wise details of drones distributed under Namo Drone Didi
Scheme
S. No. State Name No. of Drones distributed by LFCs
1 Andhra Pradesh 96
2 Assam 9
3 Bihar 5
4 Chhattisgarh 12
5 Gujarat 18
6 Haryana 22
7 Himachal 4
Pradesh
8 Jharkhand 1
9 Karnataka 82
10 Kerala 2
11 Madhya Pradesh 12
12 Maharashtra 30
13 Odisha 12
14 Punjab 23
15 Rajasthan 17
16 Tamil Nadu 17
17 Telangana 32
18 Uttar Pradesh 33
19 Uttarakhand 7
20 West Bengal 20
Total 500
*****
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