ICMR, IIT-Bombay Can Now Use Drones For Vaccine Delivery, Research As Modi Govt Relaxes Rules

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA have granted conditional exemption from Drone Rules, 2021 to the two institutions

A file photo of Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia launching ‘Medicines from the Sky’ project at Vikarabad in Telangana | Photo: Twitter/@JM_Scindia

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) can now make use of drones, with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granting conditional exemption from Drone Rules, 2021 to the two institutions. 

The ICMR has been granted the permission so it can conduct “experimental Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) vaccine delivery” using drones in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Manipur, and Nagaland upto a height of 3000 metres. 

The IIT-B has received the permission for drone use for research and development. It can now test drones on its own premises.

A statement issued by the civil aviation ministry said this exemption will be subject to the terms and conditions of the said airspace clearance, and will be valid for a period of one year “from the date of approval of the said airspace clearance or until further orders, whichever is earlier”.

On September 11, 2021, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a first-of-its-kind ‘Medicines from the Sky’ project at Vikarabad in Telangana, under which medicines and vaccines will be delivered using drones.

This came after a “liberalised” Drone Rules, 2021 was notified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation On August 25.

Drones can create employment and steer economic growth “due to their reach, versatility, and ease of use, especially in India’s remote and inaccessible areas”, the ministry had then said, adding that India has the potential to be a global drone hub by 2030 “in view of its traditional strengths in innovation, information technology, frugal engineering and huge domestic demand”. 

While notifying the liberalised rules, the government had abolished several approvals that were earlier required for use of drones.