Parliament Question: Underutilization of fund for drone and reliance on Chinese components

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 180 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2nd February 2026 UNDERUTILIZATION OF FUND FOR DRONE AND RELIANACE ON CHINESE COMPONENTS 180. SHRI RANDEEP SINGH SURJEWALA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) total funds allocated and the actual expenditure incurred under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for drone manufacturers during the last three Financial Years; (b) whether it is a fact that 90 per cent of equipment being used for manufacture of drones by the manufactures is of chinese origin; (c) the reasons for underutilization of approximately 18 per cent of total outlay of Rs 120 crores under the PLI scheme; (d) the percentage of drone flight controllers sourced from Chinese manufacturers during the last five years; and (e) plan of Government to enhance transparency and accountability in the management and allocation of funds for the same? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) The total outlay for Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Drones and Drone Components was Rs 120 crores for 3 years (Financial Year (FY) 2021-22 to FY 2023-24). The total expenditure incurred during the implementation period of scheme is Rs 98.32 crores. (b) and (d) As per Rule 13 of the Drone Rules, 2021, there is no need for type certification for manufacture of Drones in India. However, Rule 6 of Drone Rule, 2021 mandates operation of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in India, only if it conforms to a Type Certificate issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which inter-alia evaluates the components/sub-components including foreign imported components, as per the Certification Scheme of Unmanned Aircraft System (CSUAS) issued under the Drone Rules, 2021. Import policy (Notification no. 54/2015-20 dated 09.02.2022) prohibits import of UAS in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD) or Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD), but import of drone components is free. (c) The utilization of 98.32 crores under the PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components was on the basis of the eligibility of the application based on the duly approved scheme parameters.(e) The allocation of funds for the PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components was during the scheme period of FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24. The scheme is now over. The implementation, monitoring and review of scheme were done strictly in accordance with the scheme notification and approved guidelines. ******