CENTRE’S NEW RULES FOR IMPORT OF DRONES

CENTRE’S NEW RULES FOR IMPORT OF DRONES

TOPIC: Economy

Context- The Centre has banned the import of drones with some exceptions. The move is aimed at giving a boost to domestic manufacturing of drones which is seen as a sector that is set to witness rapid growth this decade.

• The Budget proposed the Drone Shakti scheme to facilitate application and use of ‘drones as service’ in the country.

Concept-

What imports are being banned?

• The import of any drones either in completely built up (CBU), completely knocked down(CKD) /semi knocked down (SKD) forms have been banned, with the exception of drones imported “for the purposes of defence, security and research and development”.
• Anyone looking to import drones under the exemptions will be required to obtain clearances.
• The ban does not apply to the import of drone components.

Why the imports are banned?

• The move is aimed at giving a boost to domestic manufacturing of drones which is seen as a sector that is set to witness rapid growth this decade.
• According to BIS Research, India’s drone market is estimated to account for about 4.25 per cent of the global drone market worth about $28.5 billion in FY22.
• The government also launched a Rs 120 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost the manufacturing of drones in the country.

Who can still import drones?

• Government entities, educational institutions and government recognised R&D entities will be allowed to import drones in CBU, SKD and CKD form after they acquire import authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Drone manufacturers seeking to import drones for R&D will also be able to import drones through this route

The new Drone Rules, 2021

• Reduced both compliances and fees required to operate drones.
• The civil aviation ministry also launched an airspace map of India on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) digital sky platform which demarcates the areas where drones can be used without permission and areas in which drone operators cannot operate drones without obtaining prior permission from government authorities.