FICCI ‘Bharat Drone Varta’; “Indigenization is must to realize the true potential of drone sector
NEW DELHI, 09 October 2024: Mr Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India today reiterated the aim of the government is to ensure that India should become a global drone hub by 2030.
Addressing the FICCI seminar ‘Bharat Drone Varta’, on the theme – Driving India’s Drone Indigenization’, the Civil Aviation Secretary stated that the impact of the PLI scheme in the drone sector is visible which has helped catalyze further development in the sector. He also urged FICCI to provide industry recommendations so that the next phase of the PLI scheme for drones is more efficient in implementation, documentation, and processes.
Mr Vualnam further added that with an increase in the use of drones in the civil and security sector, there is huge potential for the sector. “We need to focus on indigenization to tap the potential,” he added.
He emphasized that advancing India’s drone technology is essential to stay competitive globally and achieve leadership in the field by 2030.
Mr Neel Mehta, Co-Chair, FICCI Drone Committee and Director & Co-founder, Asteria Aerospace at FICCI Bharat Drone Varta said, “To become a global drone hub, we must ensure that majority of the components are designed in India. Industry, academia, and the government must jointly determine technology and commercialization readiness level of each drone component in the country to push for indigenization.”
He also urged for stronger focus on local supply chains, developing intellectual property in India, and increasing government support, including a proposed Rs 1000 crore fund for R&D.
FICCI Drone awards were announced during the event. FICCI felicitated the following initiatives in drone technologies during the programme.
| Organisation | Initiative |
| BotLab Dynamics | India’s biggest drone light show (drone show at Rashtrapati Bhawan) |
| Karnataka State Police | Training and Capacity Building of Police Personnel by Internal Security Division of Karnataka State Police in Drones and Counter Drones |
| Fligen Systems Pvt Ltd | Measurement and monitoring of Air Quality through UAV based sensors in Open Cast Coalfields
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| CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology | High resolution NextGen remote sensing
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A FICCI discussion Paper “Making India a Drone Hub of the World” was also presented during the programme. Copy enclosed.
