- Total Drones Registered: Over 29,500 drones have been registered across India as per official data.
Relevance : GS 3(Technology )
- Top Regions with Registered Drones:
- National Capital (Delhi): 4,882 drones, the highest number in the country.
- Tamil Nadu: 4,588 drones, ranking second.
- Maharashtra: 4,132 drones, third in the list.
- Government’s Role:
- Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, shared the data and emphasized the government’s focus on promoting drone technology in various sectors.
- Government Initiatives: The Centre has undertaken several initiatives to boost the adoption of drones, such as regulatory frameworks, drone policy reforms, and support for industries like agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and logistics.
- Drone Usage:
- Sectoral Adoption: Drones are being increasingly used in surveillance, monitoring, agriculture (for crop spraying and mapping), urban planning, delivery services, and disaster management.
- Impact on Economy and Innovation:
- Drones are seen as a driver of innovation, with a potential to contribute significantly to sectors like e-commerce, agriculture, and public safety.
- Economic Growth: The drone industry is expected to expand, creating new business models and job opportunities.
- Regulatory Efforts:
- The government has developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for drone operations to ensure safety and security.
- Drone Rules 2021: These aim to make the airspace more accessible for drones while ensuring compliance with safety standards, particularly in crowded urban environments.
- Security Concerns:
- The rising use of drones has sparked debates over security concerns, particularly in terms of surveillance and their potential use for nefarious purposes (e.g., smuggling, espionage).
- The government has been working on addressing these issues through the development of anti-drone technologies.
- Future Outlook:
- As drone technology evolves, it is likely that the regulatory framework will also adapt, offering more opportunities for innovation while managing potential risks effectively.
- Increased drone usage in remote and underserved areas may enhance government services and infrastructure development.
