Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Lag in Drone Adoption as Parliament Data

According to a written reply tabled in the Lok Sabha, drone adoption in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh remains low, despite the government’s repeated claims that it has significantly relaxed India's drone ecosystem.

The Government of India introduced and implemented the Drone Rules, 2021, to ensure safe and regulated drone operations, mainly in remote areas.

The amendments to the drone rules enacted in 2023 and 2024 simplified compliance by removing the mandatory passport requirement for obtaining Remote Pilot Certificates and by streamlining drone registration and transfer requirements. Most of the Indian airspace falls under the Green Zone, permitting drone operations without prior permission. A Certification Scheme for drones was also introduced in 2022 for creating a global validation framework. To prevent misuse, mandatory UIN, valid RPCs, DGCA-authorized training institutions, and strict restrictions on the carriage of weapons remain in force.

Though the state-wise registration data tells a different story for central India. Till January 31, 2026, MP had 480 registered drones, while Chhattisgarh had just 161. Maharashtra leads in the number of registered drones, with 8,210. The total number of registered drones in India is 38,475.

The data has raised questions for MP, mainly in light of CM Mohan Yadav's ambitious push to position the state as a "drone hub. “There is a 40% subsidy on drones, capped at Rs 30 crore, and grants of Rs 2 crore for R&D.

MP ranks only 13th in India in drone registrations, despite these initiatives. Its position is lower than that of Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.

Chhattisgarh also has only 161 registered drones, despite substantial requirements for forest monitoring, disaster response and remote healthcare logistics.  The data indicate that, despite India's liberal regulatory framework for drones, the drone ecosystem development varies across regions.

Source: NDTV