Why this matters now
Drones are tested for their applications, India’s liberalised Drone Rules and PLI, flagship uses (SVAMITVA, Kisan drones), and the dual-use security challenge — a hot current-affairs S&T topic.
What drones are
A drone or UAV is an aircraft without a human pilot on board, controlled remotely or autonomously. They range from tiny nano drones to large fixed-wing systems, and are classified by weight (nano to large) under Indian rules.
Applications
- Agriculture — the Kisan drones for spraying, crop monitoring;
- Mapping — the SVAMITVA survey of village land;
- Delivery — medicines/vaccines to remote areas;
- Defence & security — surveillance, reconnaissance, strikes;
- Disaster management, mining, infrastructure inspection.
India’s policy and security
The Drone Rules, 2021 liberalised the sector (digital sky platform, fewer approvals, an airspace map with green/yellow/red zones), and a PLI scheme supports drone manufacturing; imports of foreign drones were restricted to boost domestic industry. Security concerns: drones for smuggling, surveillance and attacks (e.g. on the border) — driving anti-drone/counter-UAS systems.
UPSC angle
Know drone classification, applications (Kisan drone, SVAMITVA, delivery, defence), the Drone Rules 2021 (digital sky, zones) + PLI/import curbs, and the dual-use security threat (counter-UAS).
Frequently asked questions
What is a drone?
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) — an aircraft without an onboard pilot, controlled remotely or flying autonomously.
What are the Drone Rules 2021?
Liberalised rules with a digital sky platform, an airspace zone map and fewer approvals to promote drone use and manufacturing in India.
What is the Kisan drone?
A drone used in agriculture for spraying pesticides/nutrients and monitoring crops.
What are the security concerns with drones?
Their use for smuggling, surveillance and attacks (including across borders), which has spurred anti-drone (counter-UAS) systems.