Govt scraps requirement of drone pilot license, after banning import of drones
3 min read 12 Feb 2022, 07:58 AM ISTThe Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by a DGCA-approved drone school through the single window DigitalSky Platform shall be sufficient for operating a drone in India
PremiumThe civil aviation ministry on Friday scrapped the requirement of drone pilot licence for operating drones in the country. The move comes a day after India announced its decision to ban the import of drones, a move that effectively blocks an emerging market for China’s SZ DJI Technology Co., the world’s top dronemaker, and encourages a nascent local industry to ramp up production.
According to an official, the Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by a DGCA-approved drone school through the single window DigitalSky Platform shall be sufficient for operating a drone in India. The official also said that no remote pilot certificate shall be required for operating a drone up to 2 kg for non-commercial purposes.
A notification amending Drone Rules has been issued by the ministry and the requirement of a drone pilot licence has been abolished with effect from February 11.
The latest move comes days after the government banned import of drones with certain exceptions as part of efforts to promote domestic manufacturing of drones in the country. The ministry came out with liberalised drone rules in August 2021.
After the rules, the ministry issued the drone airspace map and PLI scheme in September 2021, UTM policy framework in October 2021. Besides, drone certification scheme and single window DigitalSky Platform were put in place last month.
Meanwhile, import of some drone components will be allowed without any approval, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an order late on Wednesday. Drones used for research and development, defense, and security purposes will be exempt from the ban, the government said.
India is among several countries across the world that are trying to look for alternatives to China for products and components, as the pandemic and global trade tensions amplify a need to diversify supply chain and limit risk. India and China are engaged in a protracted standoff along their disputed Himalayan border.
Amid the continuing disputes between China and U.S., drones have taken center stage as concerns surface that Shenzhen-based DJI may be relaying some sensitive data to Chinese intelligence agencies on everything from critical infrastructure like bridges and dams, as well as personal information such as heart rates and facial recognition.
India last year relaxed rules on the use of drones to make it easier to acquire licenses and allowed heavier payloads so the devices can potentially be used as unmanned flying taxis. India will offer 1.2 billion rupees ($16 million) of incentives for drone makers under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s $20 billion plan to lure the world’s biggest brands to make their products in India and export them to the world.
Hovering drones have become immensely popular in Bollywood-style Indian weddings, holidays to exotic places, and in the filming of movies, even though they were illegal just a few years ago. After Covid started its deadly streak in India, oil refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp. began flying drones over acres of land to record behavior of workers to ensure they were following social-distancing rules. In March 2020, budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd. said it planned to use drones for the delivery of medical and essential supplies along with e-commerce products.
Rattanindia Enterprises Ltd., a local dronemaker, said India’s move will help in making the South Asian nation a drone manufacturing hub. The new rules will allow better efficiency in supply chain operations, inventory and fund management, the company said in a statement Thursday.
The pandemic has intensified a shift to automated delivery for meals, groceries, medical supplies and other essentials, boosting the drone industry. Autonomous-vehicle companies, delivery startups and drone operators have all touted the benefits of contactless systems.
