Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), popularly known as drones, are widely accepted in several industries and the Government has brought their use under its ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. It has also come up with multiple schemes to promote drone technology for allround development of the country.
One such scheme, SVAMITVA (Scheme (Survey of villages and mapping with improvised technology in village areas), is an initiative that would ensure the right of rural people to document their properties. The mapping of the land is being done using drones and it is set to be completed by March 2025.
Another eye-catching Government initiative is the ‘Hara Bhara’ campaign to promote reforestation using drone technology. Under this campaign, aerial seeding will be done over agricultural land by ‘seedcopter’ drones. Last year, the Government had liberalised drone rules to ensure the development of drone technology and its efficient usage. These relaxations are expected to provide an impetus for India to expand technologically and develop into a global drone hub by 2030.
A production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has also been put in place to incentivise more and more companies to invest in drone technology that could benefit multiple sectors, including agriculture, mining, infrastructure, surveillance, geospatial mapping and healthcare. In February this year during ‘Kisan Drone Yatra’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off 100 ‘Kisan Drones’ in various cities and towns across India to spray pesticides in farms. The drones were set off in 100 villages in 16 states, which included Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa.
Earlier, in December last year, a ‘Drone Mela’ was organised in Gwalior as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It was a conclave of investors, manufacturers, farmers and students who were involved in the use of drones in various sectors. Exhibition stalls were set up by various organisations to showcase applications of drones. During the event, it was also announced that five drone schools will be set up in Madhya Pradesh.
