Himachal Pradesh Approves Drone Policy To Create Holistic Ecosystem, Boost Employment

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur passed the Himachal Pradesh Drone Policy recently. 

The policy will help create a holistic drone ecosystem, which will be built upon the foundation of Governance and Reforms Using Drones (GARUD), according to a press statement. 

It aims to use digital sky opportunities by connecting with institutions including National Education Policy 2020, the HP Industrial Investment Policy, the HP Startup/Innovation Scheme and the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Besides, students will reap the benefits of this drone policy by getting access to job opportunities in the drone sector. The policy will also propagate the use of drones and drone-enabled technology to students as well as the general public.  

The latest development has come at a time when the Centre is making efforts to accelerate the growth of India’s drone industry.

In the past, the Centre amended the Drone Rules 2021 thereby, liberalising compliance norms, reducing restrictions on R&D activities and creating a framework for drone deliveries for drone manufacturers and startups. 

The Centre additionally introduced the PLI scheme with a corpus of INR 120 Cr for drone and drone components. Under this scheme, the Ministry of Civil Aviation shortlisted five drone manufacturers and nine drone component manufacturers. 

In May, the Ministry of Civil Aviation also notified that Digital Sky, an online platform for drone management, will be fully functional by October this year. The platform will offer various services to drone manufacturers and startups to help them apply for remote pilot certificates, generating type and pilot certificates, and submitting flight plans, among others.

Apart from the government, private players are also eyeing the burgeoning drone sector of India. Recently, Indian conglomerate Adani Enterprises’ Adani Defence Systems and Technologies acquired a 50% stake in drone startup General Aeronautics.

In April, foodtech startup Swiggy partnered with four drone startups including Garuda Aerospace, Skyeair Mobility, ANRA+TechEagle Consortia, and Marut Dronetech to pilot its grocery delivery project in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR. 

Earlier this year, Zypp Electric also announced commencing drone deliveries in various cities of India including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi-NCR.