- DGCA has given its approval to 5 companies for drone manufacturing based on the presentations made to it earlier
- The move is expected to reduce import dependence and give the necessary push to the nascent domestic industry
- The domestic drone manufacturers have approached DGCA with their products
- Till now there was a massive import of drones, especially from China
According to a recent report by IANS, India’s civil aviation regulator DGCA has given its approval to five companies to manufacture Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Director-General Arun Kumar told the news daily that the regulator has given its approval to 5 companies for drone manufacturing based on the presentations made to it earlier.
He further added that domestic drone manufacturers have approached us with their products. These are tested by our engineering department. They are concerned with the safety aspect of these products.
To reduce import dependence
Kumar also told IANS that the move is expected to reduce import dependence and give the necessary push to the nascent domestic industry. Most of these companies are start-ups. Till now there was a massive import of drones, especially from China.
He highlighted that the drones are highly effective in reaching remote areas in hilly terrain and have vast usage in other sectors like agriculture, where these can be used to spray pesticides.
Recently, the DGCA also gave permission to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to live telecast feed from inside stadiums obtained via drones. According to some industry estimates, India’s drone market is worth around $900 million.
