Drone sector can generate employment opportunities in India, says PM Modi

PM Modi is set to interact with kisan drone pilots, witness open-air drone demonstrations and interact with startups in the drone exhibition centre.

Political experts believe that both Congress and BJP are working hard to woo the voters of the 27 tribal-dominated Assembly constituencies in the state. (PTI/ File Photo)

Inaugurating the Bharat Drone Mahotsav on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the enthusiasm surrounding drone technology in India indicates that it could soon become an “emerging sector of employment generation in India.”

Touted as the country’s “biggest drone festival”, the event was held at the Pragati Maidan in Delhi. On Thursday, PM Modi tweeted, “This forum brings together key stakeholders including StartUps with the aim of increasing India’s presence in the sector. I’d urge all those interested in tech and innovation to watch the programme.”

Highlighting government initiatives in the drone space, PM Modi spoke about how the PM Swamitva Yojana has been digitally mapping villages across the country for the first time.

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“In earlier times, technology and its inventions were considered for the elite class,” PM Modi said. “Today we are making technology available to Masses first.”

At 10 AM tomorrow, 27th May I will take part in the Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022. This forum brings together key stakeholders including StartUps with the aim of increasing India’s presence in the sector. I’d urge all those interested in tech and innovation to watch the programme.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2022

In August last year, the government notified the Drone Rules 2021 with an aim to liberalise the stringent regime for civilian drone operations that it had established 2018, when these drones were allowed for the first time. PM Modi said that the Centre is now also working towards creating a drone manufacturing ecosystem in India.

The two-day festival, which kickstarted at 10 am Friday, will bring together over 1,600 delegates comprising government officials, foreign diplomats, armed forces, central armed police forces, PSUs, private companies and drone startups, the press release said.

With over 70 exhibitors displaying various use cases of drones, product launches, panel discussions, and flying demonstrations, the festival will also include a display of a Made-in-India Drone Taxi prototype. Drone pilot certificates will also be awarded virtually at the festival, the PMO said.

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