Draft Drone rules, 2021

In news- The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released the draft Drone Rules, 2021 for public consultation. The new rules will replace the UAS Rules 2021.

Key highlights-

- Number of forms is reduced from 25 to 6.
- Fee is reduced to nominal levels and no linkage with the size of the drone.
- Safety features like ‘No permission – no take-off’ (NPNT), real-time tracking beacon, geo-fencing etc. to be notified in future.
- Digital sky platform shall be developed as a business-friendly single-window online system and most permissions will be self-generated.
- Interactive airspace maps with green, yellow, and red zones will be displayed on the digital sky platform.
- Yellow zone is reduced from 45 km to 12 km from the airport perimeter.
- No flight permission required upto 400 feet in green zones and upto 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter.
- No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drones and for R&D organisations.

No restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India.
Import of drones and drone components to be regulated by DGFT.
No security clearance required before any registration or licence issuance.
No requirement of certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for R&D entities.
Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg and it will cover drone taxis also.
All drone training and testing to be carried out by an authorised drone school and DGCA shall prescribe training requirements, oversee drone schools and provide pilot licences online.
Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it.
Manufacturers may generate their drone’s unique identification number on the digital sky platform through the self-certification route.
Maximum penalty has been reduced to INR 1 lakh. This shall, however, not apply to penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.