Govt Working As Enabler By Creating Conducive Policy Framework, Demand Structure For Drones: Scindia

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday (7 October) said that the government’s role has changed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it is working as an enabler, and not a regulator, looking at a new approach of evidence-based policymaking for drones.

Addressing the session on Drones for Public Good – Mass Awareness Program, organised by FICCI, Scindia said technology promotion is crucial and drone technology will bring those living at the margins to the centre of development.

“Drones play a crucial role in connecting the people from the length and breadth of the country,” he said.

India as a country has generally been a follower in the evolution of innovation or technology, said Scindia. This is the first time we are looking at being leaders, he added.

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 Scindia.

Scindia said tat the government under 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.