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.
Source: PIB
