India Currently has More Than 38,500 Registered Drones, due to the Growing Drone Ecosystem

The adoption of drones in India is on the rise; as a result, the total number of registered drones in the country crossed 38,500 and there are 39,890 certified drone pilots as of February 2026.

There are more than 240 approved training organizations present in India, providing skilled drone pilots and maintenance professionals.

This rising acceptance of drones reflects the maturation of a complete ecosystem, including manufacturers, software and component developers, service providers, training institutions, certified pilots, start-ups, research organizations, and digital platforms operating within a unified regulatory framework.

Drones are now used across sectors such as agriculture, land and property surveys, infrastructure monitoring, disaster assessment and delivery, demonstrating their potential to improve competence, transparency and precision in governance.

A total of 3.28 lakh villages were surveyed using drones across the country under the SVAMITVA Scheme. With initiatives supporting women's entrepreneurship, rural access, and domestic manufacturing, the country has developed a coherent framework that drives technological innovation and extensive adoption of drones

 To date, women SHGs have received 1,094 drones, including more than 500 units under the Namo DroneDidi initiative, thereby improving productivity and job creation.

Indigenous manufacturing, skill development for remote pilots and integration with state and central programmes position India to use drones for infrastructure inspection and national security.  Drones can also monitor the country's railways and highways.

With drone adoption in India receiving increasing government support, India will soon become a global leader in drones, developing an ecosystem that balances commercial growth, technological self-reliance, and inclusive development.

Source: DD News