Drone laws in India

Table of Contents

Drone rules in India – General rules for flying drones in India

The Indian agency responsible for drone safety, DGCA, has provided a number of internet-accessible details on flying for fun or for work. The laws are quite detailed, and explicit, and should be reviewed before flying a drone in India. The laws are enumerated in this document: MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION NOTIFICATION – New Delhi, the 25th August 2021 and announced Drone Amendment Rules 2022 with some additional liberalization of drone rules.

Are drones allowed in India?

According to DGCA, drone use is allowed in India, subject to DGCA regulations.

Drone Categories in India

The unmanned aircraft system shall be categorized into the following three categories, namely:––

  1. airplane;
  2. rotorcraft; and
  3. hybrid unmanned aircraft system.

The airplane, rotorcraft, and hybrid unmanned aircraft system shall be further sub-categorized as follows:––

  1. remotely piloted aircraft system;
  2. model remotely piloted aircraft system; and
  3. autonomous unmanned aircraft system.

Drone Registration in India

  1. No person shall operate an unmanned aircraft system without first registering it on the digital sky platform
  2. Obtaining a unique identification number unless exempted from the requirement of a unique identification number under these rules.
  3. A registration record shall be maintained by the Director-General of all such unmanned aircraft systems
  4. It shall be the responsibility of the person operating an unmanned aircraft system to ensure that such unmanned aircraft system conforms to a valid type certificate.

Application and procedure for registration:

  1. Any person who intends to register and obtain a unique identification number for his unmanned aircraft system shall make an application in Form D-2 on the digital sky platform along with the fee as specified in rule 46 and provide requisite details including the unique number of the type certificate to which such unmanned aircraft system conforms to.
  2. The digital sky platform shall verify the details and issue a unique identification number to the applicant.
  3. The UIN of an unmanned aircraft system shall be linked to the unique serial number provided by the manufacturer
  4. No person shall replace the flight control module or remote pilot station of an unmanned aircraft system whose serial number is linked to such unmanned aircraft system’s UIN.
  5. Without first updating, on the digital sky platform, the unique serial number of the new flight control module or remote pilot station, within a period of seven days from the date of such replacement or before operating such unmanned aircraft system, whichever is earlier.

Registration of existing unmanned aircraft systems:

  1. A person owning an unmanned aircraft system manufactured in India or imported into India shall within a period of thirty-one days make an application to register and obtain a UIN
  2. The person should provide requisite details in Form D-2 on the digital sky platform along with the fee as specified in rule 46.
  3. The digital sky platform shall verify the details furnished under sub-rule (1) and issue a UIN
  4. The person need to ensure that it has the following-
    • valid Drone Acknowledgement Number issued by the digital sky platform on or before the date mentioned in sub-rule (1);
    • Goods and Service Tax paid invoice for the unmanned aircraft system; and
    • part of the list of unmanned aircraft systems published on the digital sky platform by the Director-General.

 

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