Civil Aviation Ministry, DGCA Grant Conditional Drone-Use Permission To 10 Organisations Across India

These exemptions are valid for a period of one year from the date of approval, the release by Ministry of Civil Aviation informed.

New Delhi: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday granted conditional exemption from Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021 to 10 organisations across the country.

In an official release, MoCA announced that it has granted permission for drone use to the government of Karnataka for the drone-based aerial survey for creating urban property ownership records in Bengaluru.

The National Health Mission, Mumbai has also received the nod for conducting experimental BVLOS drone flights for delivering essential healthcare items in tribal areas of Jawhar in the Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Apart from that, Gangtok Smart City Development has also received permission for a drone-based aerial survey for Smart City Project, and the Steel Authority of India, IISCO Steel Plant, Burnpur, West Bengal has been allowed to use drones for conducting perimeter surveillance of the plant.

Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy, Hyderabad, Telangana has received permission to use drones for conducting remote pilot training using drones. Additionally, Blue Ray Aviation, in Gujarat will be able to use drones for conducting remote pilot training using drones, and Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited in Chennai is granted permission for drone use for conducting drone-based aerial spraying to assess crop health and prevent crop disease.

The Union Ministry also granted permission to Mahindra and Mahindra in Mumbai to use drones for conducting drone-based agricultural trials and precision spraying on paddy and hot pepper crops in the state of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

Mumbai-based Bayer Crop Science will also be able to use drones for conducting drone-based agricultural research activities and agricultural spraying.

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune has been permitted drone use for atmospheric research at five locations--IITM Bhopal; NDA, Pune; Karad Airport; Osmanabad Airport; Mohammed Airfield, Farrukhabad.

"These exemptions are valid for a period of one year from the date of approval or until further orders, whichever is earlier and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the SOP issued by DGCA," the release informed.