Question : National Drone Policy

(a) whether the Government has made it easier for people and companies to own and operate drones in its new draft National Drone Policy;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the features of this new policy and whether it is proposed to increase the coverage of drones and to reduce the number of forms;

(c) whether it is proposed to develop new drone corridors for cargo deliveries and also to set up a new Drone Promotion Council; and

(d) the time by which the new Drone Policy is likely to be implemented?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. ;

The draft Drone Rules, 2021 have been published on 15 July 2021 in the Gazette of India. Some of the measures proposed therein, include the following: ;

i. Various authorisations, licenses, permits, certificates and approvals are proposed to be abolished. These include - unique authorisation number, unique prototype identification number, certificate of conformance, certificate of maintenance, import clearance, operator permit, authorisation of R&D organisation, student remote pilot licence, remote pilot instructor authorisation, drone port authorisation etc. ;;;

ii. Certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number and prior flight permission are proposed to be abolished for R&D entities.
iii. The ''Digital sky platform'' shall be developed as a business friendly single-window online system. There will be minimal human interface on digital sky platform and most permissions will be self-generated.
iv. Various fees have been abolished or significantly rationalised. The proposed fees have no linkage with size of the drone.;;;

v. An interactive airspace map with green, yellow and red zones will be displayed on the digital sky platform for the ease of drone operators. ;

vi. No flight permission will be required up to 400 feet in green zones and up to 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter;;

vii. No pilot licence will be required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drone and for R&D organisations.

The coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 is proposed to be increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will cover drone taxis also.;;

The number of forms are proposed to be reduced from 25 to 5.

(c) Yes, Sir.
;

(d) The new drone policy will be implementated upon final notification of the Drone Rules, 2021 in the Gazette of India.