27/08/2021
The new Drone Rules, 2021 (“Rules”) were passed on August 26, 2021, replacing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Rules, 2021.
Rules include the following (mainly salient):
1. Fees associated with operation of a drone have been reduced to nominal levels and are no longer linked to the size of drones.
2. The process of obtaining permissions has become a lot less cumbersome, where the number of forms to be filed are reduced to about five. No security clearance is required before registering of a drone or securing a license in connection with a drone. The Rules have also prescribed easier processes for the transfer and deregistration of drones.
3. The Rules have an expanded scope, as they now include heavy payload carrying drones and drone taxis carrying loads of 500kgs as against 300kgs earlier.
4. The Rules also state that the operation of drones without unique identification numbers will not be permitted, unless specifically exempted. Drone operators will now have to generate a unique identification number for each drone by providing the requisite details on a platform to be developed as a business-friendly single-window online system called the ‘digital sky platform’.
5. No flight permission is necessary for up to 400 feet in green zones and up to 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter.
6. The Rules have abolished the requirement of multiple approvals including certificates of conformance, maintenance, import clearance, acceptance of existing drones, operator permits, authorisation of research and development organisations, and student remote pilot licences.
7. A pilot licence is not required to operate micro drones (drones for non-commercial use), nano-drones and drones for research and development organisations.
8. The Rules call for the development of drone corridors for cargo delivery.
9. A drone promotion council will be set up to facilitate a drone-friendly regulatory regime in the country, per the Rules.
10. There will be no restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India.
