Scindia says India looking at being a drone industry leader
The Government is working as an enabler, and not a regulator, when looking at a new approach of evidence-based policymaking for drones, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told a session on ‘Drones for Public Good – Mass Awareness Program’ on 6 Oct 2021.
Technology promotion is crucial and drone technology will bring those living at the margins to the centre of development. “Drones play a crucial role in connecting the people from the length and breadth of the country,” he told the session jointly organized by FICCI and Drone Federation of India (DFI) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
India as a country has generally been a follower in the evolution of innovation or technology, said Scindia. “This is the first time we are looking at being leaders.”
The new drone rules, accompanied at a very short period with the PLI scheme for drones, gives the nascent industry of domestic manufacturing a huge boost. “A 40% value addition threshold for the sector gives a unique advantage to get off to a flying start,” the Minister pointed out.
For any technology to succeed it requires three steps – policy structure, funding incentive and demand structure, he acknowledged. And for this, the Indian Government, under the Svamitva (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme, plans to use drones to map thousands of villages which will give the country’s drone industry a massive boost.
India has some very hard-to-reach territories and drones would be effective in providing vaccines, resulting in an increase of the vaccination drive, added the minister.
“The government is already working as an anchor customer by the usage of vaccines and mapping and creating the demand structure for the drone technology in India,” said Scindia.
The government approved PLI Scheme for the drone’s industry will bring fresh investments and boost employment in India, he pointed out.
The Minister said that the drone technology is on the runaway and urged the industry bodies to help the technology take off.
Ariculture is one of the most important sectors in India with huge market potential and the usage of drones for agriculture will deliver significant benefits to the farmers and common man, according to Rajan Luthra, Chair – FICCI Committee on Drones and Chairman’s Office – Head-Special Projects, Reliance Industries Ltd.
Drones should bolster the Agri research system to support the sector through increased produce, upskilling of rural populations for secure livelihoods while being a lighthouse for fourth IR tech, added Vignesh Santhanam, Aerospace and Drones, World Economic Forum. #technology #investment #manufacturing /fiinewscom
