Innovation

Govt to be an enabler, not regulator in Drone sector

The government approved PLI Scheme for the drone’s industry will bring fresh investments.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Scindia said that the government is working as an enabler, and not a regulator, looking at a new approach of evidence-based policymaking for drones.

The new drone rules, accompanied at a very short period with the PLI scheme for drones, gives the nascent industry of domestic manufacturing a huge boost. “A 40 per cent value addition threshold for the sector gives a unique advantage to get off to a flying start,” said Shri Scindia.

He further mentioned that for any technology to succeed it requires three steps- policy structure, funding incentive and demand structure. The Indian Government, he further stated, the Svamitva (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme plans to use drones to map thousands of villages which will give India’s drone industry a massive boost.

India has some very hard-to-reach territories and drones would be effective in providing vaccines, resulting in an increase of the vaccination drive, added the minister. “The government is already working as an anchor customer by the usage of vaccines and mapping and creating the demand structure for the drone technology in India,” said Scindia.

The government approved PLI Scheme for the drone’s industry will bring fresh investments and boost employment in India said the minister. He said that drone technology is on the runaway and urged the industry bodies to help the technology take off.

  • PIB