The Sky Is The (Regulated) Limit

Context: India’s drone policy shall balance leveraging the potential application of new technology and associated security and other risks.

About Draft National Drone Policy

• To replace the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021, that became operational in March 2021.
• Reduction in red tape: From 25 forms to be filled to five, no security clearance required before registration or licence, and no curbs for foreign companies registered in India, with fees for drone usage brought down sharply.
• It focuses on the response that needs to be ‘countering the intent’.

Issues with the earlier rules:

• Policy level ban rather than regulation: In 2014 total ban of drones resulted in illegal drone imports and operations, which is estimated between 50000 and 6 lakhs in 2019.
• Issues with the registration of drones and regulatory policies: Implemented in 2018 were still facing issues due to lack of clarity on rules—this discouraged legit drone adoption in India. 
• The resultant demand vacuum stifled investments and local innovation in the technology. The latest change of heart hopes to check this regression.

Way forward

• Leverage market potential: Drones and counter-drone systems is estimated to have a market of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2030. Its multiplier effect on economic benefits would be much higher.
• Need a systematic and concerted approach: An approach that includes understanding the nature of the asset to be protected, its threat perception, along with an analysis of ‘technology fitment’.
• There is no ‘one size fits all’ protective mechanism: Moreover, counter-drone technology is evolving globally.
• Need for coordination in regulation: As three key technology components of counter-drone systems, detection, identification and interdiction, fall under multiple regulatory domains.
• Regulatory structure to take security into account: A two-tier approach providing optimum oversight needed by regulators while providing options to users to choose a system that works best for them.
• One, a central framework that enables interfacing requirements of counter-drone systems with regulating entities. Boundaries need to be established here.
• Second, specialised agencies that have domain expertise in protecting assets under their watch can detail their requirements and choose technology that best fits their need.