What will it take for India's drone industry to fly higher?
economictimes.indiatimes.com
“(PLI scheme for) drones is a small scheme. The companies were happy with the way the scheme is being implemented. Their only ask was to expand the scheme. The industry is looking for a second opportunity for more players to apply and to increase the outlay. In this sector, almost all the beneficiaries are startups and micro, small and medium enterprises,” Pawan Goenka, the chairperson of the Steering Committee for Advancing Local value-add and Exports (SCALE), has told ET.
The annual sales turnover of the Indian drone manufacturing industry may grow from approximately Rs 60 crore in 2020-21 to approximately Rs 900 crore by 2024-25, said Minister of State of Civil Aviation Gen. VK Singh (Retd.).
How did the drone industry lift off?
The ascent of the drone industry began with the government releasing liberalised drone rules in August 2021 which it said will usher India into ‘an era of supernormal growth.’ These regulations streamlined the bureaucratic process by reducing the number of forms and permissions required from 25 to just 5 and eliminated the need for security clearances during registration and licensing.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation identified five key pillars that will allow India to be a drone hub in the next few years: Ease of Doing Business (Drone Rules 2021), financial incentives (PLI scheme), government as market maker (procurement by government), export liberalisation and domestic industry promotion (Import prohibition).
After the drone regulations, the ministry issued the drone airspace map
