DNA Edit: Drone Age for India - The new policy will propel the economy

What is it? Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it is a drone! Come December 1, spotting a drone in the sky will be a child’s play. India is entering the drone age now.

The Union Civil Aviation ministry will allow the commercial use of drones, albeit with a host of safeguards. An all-digital process will enable the registering and operating of drones in sectors like agriculture and health.

Drones will also come in handy for relief operations during calamities. The drone policy is in line with the government’s vision to pave the way for “new and exciting applications to propel India’s economy forward”.

The government is keen on establishing a world-leading drone ecosystem that will be powered by a Made-in-India drone industry. Drones are the next step of technological advancements that can be employed for greater public good.

For efficient farming, drones are ideal for soil and field analysis, planting and crop monitoring. Drone technology has the power to transform emergency aid in Indian urban clusters. The global commercial drones market, valued at $2,145 million in 2015, and projected to reach $10,738 million by 2022, will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 26.2 per cent between 2016 and 2022.

India should have got on to the drones bandwagon earlier, but security concerns had held the government back. The new drone policy is strict about no-fly zones like airports, international borders, and areas with vital military installations.

However, the wait for pizza being delivered at the doorstep by a drone has just got longer because the government will not allow the delivery of food items. The banned items also include explosives, animals and humans.