Boosting India’s drone workforce, over a thousand candidates trained under Drone Shakti via the Craftsman Training Scheme to meet growing demand for UAV expertise nationwide.
A total of 1096 candidates received training in drone‑related skills under the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) during the two financial years 2023–24 and 2024–25, as part of the central government’s Drone Shakti initiative.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary, stated this information in a Rajya Sabha response on Wednesday.
Launched as a pillar of the broader Skill India Mission, Drone Shakti aims to equip young Indians with certified UAV (unmanned ariel vehicle) operation skills, supporting sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, disaster response, logistics and mapping. The scheme forms part of India’s ambitious efforts to become a global drone hub by 2030.
Training is delivered via the Craftsman Training Scheme, with candidates undergoing hands-on and theoretical modules to become licensed drone operators.
This boost in capacity building coincides with rising demand in both public and private sectors for UAV‑based services. Experts note that India’s drone market has surged dramatically in recent years, with projected growth from ₹600 million in 2020–21 to over ₹9 billion in 2023–24.
Chaudhary emphasised that the initiative enhances employability in emerging tech sectors while fostering indigenous innovation and startups. Further scalability is expected, with partnerships between training institutes, industry and government agencies bolstering ecosystem development.
The goal is to generate a pool of skilled professionals ready for drone-enabled assignments across diverse domains.
