Progressive policy

Context: Proposed drone rules will open up new opportunities. 

Need for drone rules: The new draft was issued within a few days of the drone attack in Jammu, signalling the  government’s resolve to carry the reforms process forward. 

About the new drone rules 

• Reduced red-tape: The rules reduce the paperwork considerably with an eye to “trust, self-certification  and non-intrusive monitoring”. 
  •  Drone operators will now have to fill five forms from the earlier mandatory 25 forms.  
  • The draft abolishes the requirement of approvals like a certificate of conformance, a certificate of  maintenance, import clearances, a unique prototype registration number, authorisation for a  research and development (R&D) organisation using drones, and a student remote pilot licence.  
  • No pilot licence will be required to fly micro drones (weight limit of 2 kg) for non-commercial use,  or nano drones (weight limit 250 grams), and for R&D organisations using drones. 
• Allows foreign operators: This enables e-commerce majors like Amazon to consider drone-based  deliveries. The new rules cover drones weighing up to 500 kg instead of 300 kg earlier and set the stage for drone taxis and ambulances. 
• Development of drone corridors: Drone corridors will also be developed for cargo deliveries, and a  drone promotion council will be set up to enable future regulation as technology develops.
•  Drawing an interactive airspace map: An interactive airspace map with green, yellow and red zones will  be developed and displayed on the digital sky platform within 30 days of notification.
  •  This zoning can be dynamically updated at need, and geofencing technology will be used to prohibit  or limit drones flying in the red zone, close to airports or sensitive military and VIP locations.
• Self-registration: No security clearance will be required before making an application for registration or  pilot licensing. Registration numbers can be self-generated on the digital sky platform.
•  Foster ancillary activities: The new policy should quickly enable activities ranging from news  programming and cargo delivery and artistic creations to utilitarian tasks like digital mapping and crop spraying.