Timeline of Key Drone Regulatory and Industry Developments in India
- Knowledge Team
- May 11
- 9 min read
Updated: May 15
Indian drone regulations have evolved from a 2014 blanket ban on civil UAV use to today’s liberal “trust-and-verify” regime built around the Digital Sky platform and Production-Linked Incentives.
The documents linked below—public notices, gazette rules, training circulars, state-level policies and police orders—trace every formal step in that journey, whether issued by MoCA, DGCA, DGFT or state authorities.
Together they show how India moved from visual-line-of-sight experiments to BVLOS trials, opened 90 % of its airspace as “green zones”, and simultaneously tightened import controls to spur domestic manufacturing.
Date | Development |
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (‘DGCA’) issued a public notice announcing its intent to regulate certification and operation for the use of Unmanned Aircraft System (‘UAS’) in the Indian Civil Airspace. Until regulations were in place, a ban was imposed on civil use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (‘UAVs’) by any non-government entity. | |
Aircraft (Eleventh Amendment) Rules, 2017 published in the official gazette. The new provisions provided for the definition of Remote Pilot, Remotely Piloted Aircraft etc. Another newly inserted rule detailed the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). | |
Draft Regulation of Civil Aviation Requirements (‘CAR’) on civil use of drones announced by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (‘MoCA’). As per the draft regulation, all drones were proposed to be operated in visual line of sight, during daytime only and below 200 feet. | |
Civil Aviation Requirements for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, 2018 were issued by the DGCA to be effective from December 01, 2018. These regulations, popularly known as the Drone Regulations 1.0, legalised civil drone operations within visual line-of-sight daytime-only and a maximum of 400 ft altitude operations. These regulations also unveiled the Digital Sky Platform, the first-of-its-kind national unmanned traffic management (‘UTM’) platform that implemented ‘no permission, no takeoff’ (NPNT). Press Release issued by MoCA for the first-mentioned partitioning of the airspace into Red, Yellow and Green zones. | |
MoCA launched the Digital Sky Platform, the online portal for the registration of drones, pilots and operators, as well as for obtaining necessary flight permissions. | |
2019 | National Counter Rogue Drone Guidelines, 2019 were released by MoCA with measures to address law & order and national security issues. Not available on the official links on DGCA/ MoCA websites. |
2019 | Telangana released the draft Telangana State Drone Policy, 2019 and the Drone Framework, outlining their vision to build a robust drone ecosystem in the state. |
The discussion draft for the National UTM Policy was released by the MoCA, recognising the need for creating a separate system for the control of Unmanned Traffic and its subsequent integration with the Air Traffic Management Systems (‘ATS’). | |
Conditional exemption granted from Rule 15A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 to facilitate conduct of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (‘BVLOS’) experimental flights as recommended by the BVLOS Experiment Assessment and Monitoring (BEAM) Committee constituted by the Central Government. | |
The Department of Science and Technology (DAS), Ministry of Science & Technology, released the Guidelines for acquiring and producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps. These guidelines allow for the use of geospatial technologies, including drones. | |
MoCA notified the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021 (‘UAS Rules’). These rules required extensive paperwork, permission for every drone flight and provided for very few green zones. They were later superseded by the Drone Rules, 2021, which were notified on August 26, 2021. | |
MoCA granted conditional exemption from UAS Rules to entities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (‘MHA’)and State/UT Police for drone operations. | |
MoCA granted conditional exemption from UAS Rules to 20 entities to conduct BVLOS experimental flights of drones with the objective of creating a framework for other major drone applications.[MoCA order] | |
Conditional exemption granted to the Telangana Government from the UAS Rules for conducting experimental BVLOS drone flights for delivery of vaccines. | |
Conditional exemption granted to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, from the UAS Rules for conducting experimental BVLOS drone flights for delivery of essential healthcare items. | |
Draft Drone Rules, 2021 released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, requesting public feedback by 05.08.2021. | |
Drone Rules, 2021 by the MoCA published in the official gazette easing norms. The earlier rules (UAS Rules) were perceived by academia, startups, end-users and other stakeholders as being restrictive in nature. These rules are built on the principles of trust, self-certification, and non-intrusive monitoring, reducing the need for complex approvals and paperwork. Key features include abolishing several licenses and permissions, minimising the number of forms and fees, and expanding the coverage to include drones up to 500 kg. Additionally, the rules introduced an easy-to-use Digital Sky platform for online registration and management, and create clear airspace maps (green, yellow and red zones) to simplify operations. By liberalising drone regulations, the government aims to make India a global drone hub by 2030. | |
Conditional exemption from the Drone Rules, 2021 granted to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) for conducting experimental BVLOS drone operations in Andamans & Nicobar, Manipur and Nagaland upto 3000 metres. | |
Drone Airspace Map released on the Digital Sky platform, opening up to 90% of the Indian airspace as green zone. It is an interactive map of India that demarcates the yellow and red zones across the country. | |
MoCA introduced a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme of Rs. 120 crore to boost the manufacturing of drones and drone components. | |
The National UTM Policy Framework was introduced by MoCA that laid the foundation for UTM systems in the country. This policy catered to the requirement of creation of a separate, modern, primarily software-based, automated UAS Traffic Management system. The framework further acknowledged that these systems may subsequently be integrated into traditional ATM systems. | |
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare amended the guidelines of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), which now envisages granting upto 100% of the cost of agriculture drone or Rs. 10 lakhs. | |
The MoCA notified the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, this scheme simplified the type certification process for drones. This scheme requires all drone manufacturers to obtain type certification for their models, with the assessment process covering both documentation and physical flight tests. The certification ensures that the UAS adheres to the requirements as per the certification criteria of the scheme. | |
Digital Sky Platform Updates: All five application forms under the Drone Rules, 2021 made available online on the DigiSky platform. | |
Press Release detailing the Drone Rules 2021 and steps taken by the government to liberalise drone operations. This comprehensively covered the government’s position on and regulatory actions taken for drones till such date. | |
Drone Shakti Initiative: Budget 2022 announcement including provisions for promoting drone startups and Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS). | |
Drone Import policy notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (‘DGFT’). According to the revised policy, the import of drones in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD), or Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD) form is prohibited in India, with exceptions for government entities, recognised educational and R&D institutions and defence or security purposes, all requiring import authorisation from the DGFT. However, the import of drone components is allowed freely without restrictions. | |
Drone (Amendment) Rules 2022 notified, abolishing pilot licenses and introducing Remote Pilot Certificates where, Remote Pilot Certificate means the certificate issued by an Authorised Remote Pilot Training Organisation (‘RTPO’) to any individual. | |
Drone Training Circular-01 released, establishing approval process and infrastructure minimums for RPTOs. | |
Drone Training Circular-02 for Remote Pilot Certificates released, detailing the syllabus for Cat-1 [VLOS] and Cat-2 [BVLOS] examination. | |
Answering various questions raised in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of Civil Aviation provided insights on the Benefits of Drone Technology and the developments taking place in the drone sector. The Ministry urged Union Ministries & entities in their jurisdiction to promote drone use in areas such as agriculture, vaccine delivery, surveillance, search and rescue, mapping, defence, and law enforcement, with ministry-wise applications detailed in the Annexure. It further provided an illustrative list of drone manufacturers in India and their key products. | |
Given its mountainous terrain and scattered settlements, Himachal Pradesh introduced the Himachal Pradesh Drone Policy, 2022, to enhance service delivery, project execution, and accessibility through drone technology. | |
Karnataka released the Karnataka Aerospace and Defence Policy 2022-27. This policy aims at fostering aerospace and defence industries, including drone manufacturing, training and ecosystem development. | |
Goa published the Goa Drone Policy 2022 in its official gazette. The Government of Goa introduced this Policy to enable the drone ecosystem to flourish in the state. | |
Notification by DGFT: Drones/UAVs with a range of up to 25 km and payload under 25 kg will now require only a General Authorisation for Export of Drones (GAED). Exporters with GAED are exempt from seeking a SCOMET license for each shipment, subject to reporting and documentation rules. | |
Drone (Amendment) Rules, 2023 notified, allowing alternative IDs (voter ID, ration card) for pilot certification. Earlier version of the Rules required passport details to be provided. | |
Press Release detailing the various reforms taken by the Central Government for facilitating drone manufacturing in the country. | |
Press Release: DGCA has issued 16,000 Remote Pilot Certificates (RPC) to date and approved 116 RPTOs across the country. | |
DGCA released the revised Drone Training Circular, standardising Train-the-Trainer programs and instructor ratings. It further mandated a 10-year renewal cycle for training organisations. | |
Circular released by DGCA providing guidance material on Type Certification of electrical vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with pilot onboard. | |
Andhra Pradesh released the Andhra Pradesh Drone Policy 4.0 (2024- 29) with an aim to create a conductive ecosystem for stakeholders in the drone industry and positioning Andhra Pradesh as a potential hub for drone technology in India. | |
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhinayam 2024 came into effect. The Act is aimed at modernising India’s aviation sector by re-enacting the Aircraft Act, 1934. | |
The Commissioner of Police, Delhi, prohibited the use of sub-conventional aerial platforms such as UAVs, UASs, drones, paragliders, and similar devices over the National Capital Territory of Delhi from 18.01.2025 to 01.02.2025, citing security threats around the Republic Day 2025 celebrations. The order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, warns that violations will be punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. | |
Madhya Pradesh released the Madhya Pradesh Drone Promotion and Usage Policy 2025. This policy aimed to position Madhya Pradesh as a leader in drone innovation, manufacturing and application. | |
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, with the support of MoCA conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of using drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials such as human cornea. The drone successfully transported corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi. | |
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Drone Federation India (DFI), launched the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) under the ‘SwaYaan - Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ initiative. | |
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Brihanmumbai, prohibited all drone, microlight aircraft, paraglider and similar aerial activities across the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate from 04.04.2025 to 03.05.2025, citing potential terrorist threats. The ban, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, excludes aerial surveillance by Mumbai Police, and violators will be punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. | |
Citing security reasons, the Pune police banned the use of drones from 06.04.2025 to 05.05.2025. | |
Noida International Airport (Jewar) declared a ‘Red Zone’. The restriction was first imposed on 08.10.2024, the police has now issued a fresh reminder as the airport inches closer to operational readiness. | |
Citing security concerns for the general public, the district magistrate’s office of Gurugram on Friday issued a notification prohibiting the use of drones, hot air balloons, kites, Chinese microlights and firecrackers, among other items. According to the notification, the order will remain in force from midnight on 09.05.2025 until 07.07.2025. |
Note:
The following instances of ban on usage of drones or requests for ban were reported in the media but no official documents could be found:
Puri temple - The area around the Puri Jagannath temple, Bhubaneshwar The temple area has been declared a no-fly zone, prohibiting any flights in the vicinity.
March 2, 2025: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the trust that maintains Tirupati temple, wrote a letter to the Minister of Civil Aviation, requesting that Tirumala be declared a no-fly zone to prevent aircraft from flying over the sacred pilgrimage site. In response to the request Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu clarified that there is no provision for declaring an area as a 'No-Fly' zone.
May 2, 2025: Drone use banned around Miss World 2025 venues in Hyderabad. The ban will remain in force between 02.05.2025 to 02.06.2025.
Authors Abhinav Goyal and Siya Jindal can be reached at abhinav@sigmachambers.in
Please note that this resource has been prepared for informational purposes alone. This list if not exhaustive and may not include all relevant materials or developments in the field.