India Is Betting Big On Commercial Drones
MUMBAI – India’s commercial drone industry, valued at $1.88 billion in FY26, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.98 percent through FY29, according to a report by B2K Analytics.
Globally, the United States leads the commercial drone market, followed by China, while India currently ranks seventh, the report said.
Drones are emerging as a cost-effective solution in agriculture, particularly in agrochemical spraying. The study found that drones can reduce spraying costs by nearly 80 percent compared with manual labor.
The analysis examined small and medium-sized drones priced between Rs 6.4 lakh and Rs 7.1 lakh, with an operational life of up to three years, against annual manual labor costs of about Rs 1.7 lakh. Despite the higher upfront investment, drones can cover 6 to 6.6 acres in the time it takes manual labor to spray one acre.
“After accounting for efficiency and depreciation, drones were found to be over 78 percent more cost effective than manual labor,” the report noted.
India currently has 122 holders of the Type Certificate, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which certifies that drone models meet safety, airworthiness, and performance standards for commercial use.
Of these, nearly 70 percent are certified for agricultural applications, mainly agrochemical spraying, while about 24 percent are used for surveillance and mapping, underscoring agriculture as the primary driver of drone adoption in the country.
Government initiatives have played a key role in supporting the domestic drone ecosystem. Policies such as the ban on completely built drone imports and the production-linked incentive scheme have boosted local manufacturing and research and development.
Programs like the Namo Drone Didi scheme aim to empower women-led Self-Help Groups by enabling them to provide drone-based agricultural services, further driving adoption.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare offers subsidies for drone purchases, while the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways deploy drones to monitor mining activities and highway infrastructure projects. The Ministry of Defence has also established procurement mechanisms for remotely piloted aerial vehicles to enhance operational readiness.
Additionally, around 90 percent of India falls within designated green zones, where drones can be operated without prior permission.
“Following states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh, drone adoption in agriculture is expected to expand, creating a wider farm-based market,” the report added. (IANS)
