Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), are now at the heart of modern combat. It’s wild to think that a drone costing just USD 500 can take on a multi-million-dollar defence system. This standoff approach isn’t just about technology, it’s also about saving lives.
Indian drone market is currently estimated at USD 1.6 billion and expected to grow more than 20 per cent Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the next five years. India is quickly becoming a leader. Due to new rules of 2021, India is making its mark. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute ranks India in the top five for most critical technologies, and fourth for drone swarming and collaborative robots. Homegrown projects like the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) work on new engines and kamikaze drones for national defence.
By 2030, India wants to be a global drone manufacturing hub, aiming for a quarter of the world’s market. It is looking at a potential of about Rs 1.8 lakh crore by the end of the decade, growing at a steady 35 per cent every year. Commercial drones are rapidly expanding beyond defence into everyday development. In agriculture, they enable precision farming and water conservation, while initiatives like the NaMo Drone Didi Scheme are empowering rural women with drone skills. Drones are also transforming land management through large-scale village mapping under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme. This helps in resolving land disputes and improves access to credit. From infrastructure monitoring to future urban air mobility, drones are becoming essential tools in shaping both rural and urban growth.
In this cover story, Industrial Economist brings together voices from policymakers, administrators, industry leaders and scientists to present a 360-degree view of how India’s drone ecosystem is taking shape.
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Kothari Drones – Towards Full Indigenisation: https://industrialeconomist.com/kothari-drones-towards-full-indigenisation/