Drone race
The Government of India is going to start an incentive program of about Rs 1,950 crore ($ 234 million) to promote drone -making companies. Its aim is to increase the construction of civil and military (civil and military) drones in the country, so that drone programs in Pakistan can be fought with the help of China and Türkiye.
India has taken this decision after a four -day border struggle with Pakistan in May. During this time, for the first time, the two countries used drones against each other in large numbers. Now a kind of drone race has started between India and Pakistan.
Under this new scheme, the government will give incentives on the construction of drones, their parts, software, anti-drain system and its services in the next 3 years. It is much larger than the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme of Rs 120 crore already existing. The earlier plan could not get much success, because startups were facing problems in funding and research.
By 2028, 40% required drone parts will be made in India only
According to the information, the objective of this scheme is that by financial year 2027-28 (March 2028), at least 40% of important drone components start being made in India. Currently, India gets many drone parts like motor, sensor and imaging system from China.
Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, “During the Indo-Pakistan confrontation, drones, looted drones and suicide drones were used a lot during the confrontation.
Ban on import of drones, but not on the parts
India has stopped import of drones, but their components can still be asked from outside. The government will now give more benefits to those companies which will buy their parts from India. In addition, the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will funds cheap loans and R&D (research and development) to help in this scheme.
A source associated with an industry said that at present, more than 600 companies in India are making drones or connected goods, and they will get a lot of strength from this new scheme of the government. Earlier, Reuters had also reported that India could spend around Rs 3,900 crore ($ 470 million) on drone in the next 12 to 24 months, in which it will gradually and firmly prepare its domestic companies. Overall, the government is now going to take a big step towards self -sufficiency in the field of drones.