New Delhi: The drone industry in India is experiencing significant growth, with 16,000 Remote Pilot Certificates (RPC) issued to date by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approved Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs). This milestone was highlighted in a written reply by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, to a question in the Rajya Sabha on 22 July 2024.
The DGCA has approved 116 RPTOs across the country, further fostering the development of skilled remote pilots. In addition, 70 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) models have received type certification from the DGCA. There are currently 48 drone companies in India manufacturing these DGCA type certified UAS models.
Under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 23 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were shortlisted based on the scheme’s guidelines. Among these, 11 were categorized as drone component manufacturers, underscoring the government’s support for the burgeoning drone ecosystem in India.