India’s new drone rules

GS Paper 2

Topics Covered: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Context:

The central government has notified the Drone Rules 2021, a much more liberalised regime for unmanned aircraft systems than what existed previously.

Key changes:

1. Digital sky platform shall be developed as a business-friendly single-window online system.
2. No flight permission required upto 400 feet in green zones and upto 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter.
3. No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drone and for R&D organisations.
4. No restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India.
5. Import of drones and drone components to be regulated by DGFT.
6. No security clearance required before any registration or licence issuance.
7. No requirement of certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for R&D entities.
8. Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg.  This will cover drone taxis also.
9. Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it.
10. Manufacturer may generate their drone’s unique identification number on the digital sky platform through the self-certification route.
11. Maximum penalty under Drone Rules, 2021 reduced to INR 1 lakh. This shall, however, not apply to penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
12. Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
13. Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.

Significance of the new rules:

1. It highlights the government’s intent to allow the use of drones while at the same time ensuring security from rogue drones through the anti-rogue drone framework that was announced in 2019.
2. The rules are based on the premise of trust and self-certification.
3. The Rules will tremendously help start-ups and our youth working in this sector. It will open up new possibilities for innovation & business.
4. It will help leverage India’s strengths in innovation, technology & engineering to make India a drone hub.

Need for stricter rules and regulations:

• Recently, Drones were used for the first time to drop explosive devices, triggering blasts inside the Air Force Station’s technical area in Jammu.
• Over the past two years, drones have been deployed regularly by Pakistan-based outfits to smuggle arms, ammunition and drugs into Indian territory.
• According to government figures, 167 drone sightings were recorded along the border with Pakistan in 2019, and in 2020, there were 77 such sightings.
• With the rapid proliferation of drone technology and exponential growth of its global market in recent years, the possibility of a drone attack cannot be ruled out even in the safest cities in the world.
• Drones are becoming security threats particularly in conflict zones where non-state actors are active and have easy access to the technology.

Insta Curious:

Did you know that there are a few countries in the world which do not have armed forces of their own? Which are those countries? Reference

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Overview of new rules.
2. New rules vs old rules.
3. Exemptions.
4. Licenses required.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of the new rules.

Sources: Indian Express.