New Delhi, Feb 16: India has more than 29,500 registered drones, with the national capital leading the count at 4,882, according to official data.
Following Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have the highest number of registered drones, standing at 4,588 and 4,132, respectively. The data, updated till January 29 by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), was shared by the civil aviation ministry in the Rajya Sabha this week.
Other states with a significant number of registered drones include Haryana (3,689), Karnataka (2,516), Telangana (1,928), Gujarat (1,338), and Kerala (1,318).
So far, the regulator has issued 96 Type Certificates for various models of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), of which 65 are specifically designed for agricultural purposes. Each registered drone is assigned a Unique Identification Number (UIN) through the Digital Sky Platform, operated by the DGCA. Additionally, DGCA-authorised Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) have issued 22,466 Remote Pilot Certificates (RPCs).
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply, highlighted steps taken by the Union government to boost drone usage across sectors. Among key reforms, the ministry amended regulations in August last year, eliminating the mandatory passport requirement for drone registration and transfer. Instead, documents such as voter ID, ration card, or driving licence can now be used for these processes.
India’s drone airspace is categorised into three zones—green, yellow, and red. While operations in the green zone do not require prior approval, flights in the yellow zone need clearance from the respective Air Traffic Control (ATC). For drones to be flown in the red zone, specific permission from the Union government is mandatory.
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