Chennai: Union Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur inaugurated Garuda Aerospace's first-ever 'Drone Skilling and Training Conference' at Agni College of Technology campus in OMR on Tuesday. He also flagged off the first-of-its-kind drone yatra at Drone Skilling and Training Conference in Chennai.
Garuda Aerospace’s drone yatra, ‘Operation 777’, inaugurated for agricultural uses is set to cover 777 districts to ease agricultural work across the country.
Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Anurag Thakur said, "Today I see the vision of PM Modi and the youth of nation by what is achieved day by day. As the country advances, we will need at least one lakh drone pilots next year to become a drone skill hub. Kisan drone is also set to implement the Garuda Aerospace scheme in villages across the country to help farmers."
"Garuda Aerospace will also be manufacturing more than 1 lakh drones in the next 2 years," he said.
The Ministry said: “Technology is truly transforming the world at a rapid rate and its applications are solving some of the most pressing problems on the planet. PM Narendra Modi once remarked that 'India has a billion solutions to a million problems'.”
“In this 'Amrit kaal' we all have to set target for next 25 years. I look forward to all the youngsters where you must also pick one area where you can contribute not only for yourself but also to take the country forward,” he said.
The Minister also witnessed a drone show and unveiling of the virtual Drone E learning platform. He also inspected the functioning of the drone while it was manned to hoist the national flag and give a floral tribute.
After the inauguration, the Minister as per the schedule had lunch with Indian Olympic association and other sports associations and sports personalities in Chengalpattu. Later, he is meeting farmers and EWS beneficiaries in an open field in the district.
He is also expected to meet district office bearers and mandal presidents of Chengalpattu south.
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The event comes after the MoCA removed the drone pilot license requirement for operating drones in the country on February 11, 2022. The government said that a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by DGCA is adequate to man a drone.
In May 2022, Anurag Thakur also posted a video of PM Modi manning a drone. Taking to social media, Anurag Thakur said, "India’s Drone sector soaring new heights ! New policies under the leadership of PM @narendramodi ji have aimed at stimulating the drone startup ecosystem and transforming India into a hub for the drones sector."