- A historic super-pressure balloon was launched from Vijayawada, highlighting Andhra Pradesh's emergence as a technology hub for India, with DGCA coordination.
- DGCA implements civil aviation safety protocols while Andhra Pradesh continues to develop as a technology hub.
- Government of India and DGCA partner on drone industry round table to drive sector reforms.
- The drone sector is experiencing growth and policy impact, driven by the Drone Rules Policy 2021 and the Make in India vision.
Drone Federation India pushes for domestic manufacturing in drone sector
What happened
Smit Shah led the Bharat Drone Stack Conference 2026 in Bengaluru. During the event, a whitepaper titled "Making the Swadeshi Switch" was released, which contains 22 policy recommendations. These recommendations include establishing Indian content norms for defense and civil drones and providing targeted support for component makers. The Drone Federation India estimates the Indian drone industry could grow from Rs 5,720 crore in 2025-26 to approximately Rs 97,300 crore by 2030-31.
From aninews.in
Why it matters
The conference highlighted the need for deeper localization in the drone sector, noting that critical parts like magnets, cells, and chips are still imported. The policy recommendations aim to drive the component market toward a USD 3.08 billion target by 2030-31. This push is motivated by the sector's growth potential and the need to mitigate risks associated with international export controls.
The drone sector is experiencing growth and policy impact, driven by the Drone Rules Policy 2021 and the Make in India vision. The Government of India and DGCA partner on drone industry round tables to drive sector reforms.
From aninews.in