Drone Regulations in India

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UAV – Unmanned Ariel Vehicles
 Uses of Drone
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Various
activities like

Transportation Agriculture Surveillance Videography Defence

 Historical Development of Regulations
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2014 – Notification by DGVA – Mandatory to take permission to operate drone for

civil purposes – AAI – Defence – Mnistry of Home Affairs & Other Security Agencies

2016 – New Guidelines for UAV

2017 – Second Regulations

2018 – Supplementary Guidelines – Digital Sky Platform

Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021 (“UAS Rules”)

The Drone Rules, 2021 (“Drone Rules”)

 Drone Rules by Ministry of Civil Aviation
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DGCA – Rule 3
Drone Categories
in India –
Unmanned
Aircraft System

Hybrid
Air Plane Rotorcraft Unmanned
Aircraft System

Nano UAS Micro UAS Small UAS Medium Large

Weight 250 g 250 g to 2 kg 2 kg to 25 kg 25 kg to 150 kg 150 kg above
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Definitions – Rule 2
(x) Drone means an unmanned aircraft
(zi) Prohibited Area means the airspace of
defined dimensions, above the land areas or
territorial waters of India within which the flights
of unmanned aircraft are not permitted, or any
installation or notified port limits identified by the
Central Government beyond the territorial
waters of India, at any time under any
circumstances;
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Definitions – Rule 2
(zp) Restricted Area means the airspace of
defined dimensions above the land areas or
territorial waters of India within which the flight of
unmanned aircraft is restricted;
(zw) Unmanned Aircraft means an aircraft, which
is intended to operate with no pilot on board;
(zx) Unmanned Aircraft System means an
unmanned aircraft and its associated elements,
which are operated with no pilot on board;
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https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in/home
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Rule 9 - Mandatory for individuals and

companies to obtain approval from the
DGCA to import, manufacture, trade, own
or operate drones.
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Rule 9(8)(g) - No Permission- No Take-

off (NPNT) policy adopted for all UAS
except for those in the nano category
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Rule 29 –
Micro UAS not permitted from flying
above 60m
Small UAS – not permitted from flying
above 120 m
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All UAS, (except nano category) have to

be equipped with
flashing anti-collision strobe lights,
flight data logging capability,
secondary surveillance radar
transponder,
real-time tracking system
360 degree collision avoidance system.
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All UAS including nano category, are

required to be equipped with
Global Navigation Satellite System,
Autonomous Flight Termination System
Return to Home option,
geo-fencing capability and
flight controller.
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the act enlists the areas where

unmanned aircrafts are prohibited from
flying.
No Operation Area:No person shall fly or assist in
flying an unmanned aircraft over any of the areas
specified in sub-rule (2), save, in accordance with
the conditions specified by the Central
Government.
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UAS prohibited from flying in

strategic and sensitive location,
near airports,
defence airports,
border areas,
military installations/facilities and
areas earmarked as strategic
locations/vital installations by the Ministry
of Home Affairs.
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- Nano, micro and small UAS operations

limited to within the visual line of sight
and are prohibited from delivery of
goods.
Delivery of goods permitted by medium
and large UAS
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- Research and development (R&D)

organisations, including start-ups,
authorised UAS manufacturer, any
accredited recognised institution of
higher education located in India, are
permitted to carry out R&D of UAS only
after obtaining authorisation from the
DGCA
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a restriction on images or other such data

captured by an unmanned aircraft.
Data/ images are not allowed to be
collected in the no-operation areas.
A person's and his property's information may
be captured only after attaning prior
permission for the same.
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General Safety:
No person shall, act in any manner, either directly or
indirectly, so as to:
endanger safety and security of an unmanned aircraft system
or unmanned aircraft system operation;
cause interference with the normal functioning of any facility
established for the safe and secure operation of unmanned
aircraft system;
obstruct or distract the functioning of any person entrusted with
any responsibility towards ensuring safe and secure operation of
unmanned aircraft system;
endanger safety and security of any person or property; and
endanger safety and security of a manned aircraft or its
operation: