A year ago, Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, mentioned the high demand for drone pilots in India.
He said India will require at least 100,000 drone pilots by 2024.
The recent development in this space has opened the doors to a new career opportunity for drone pilots.
Many tech industries and e-commerce giants are already using drones in multiple industries, but not everyone can fly a drone.
This article will help you learn about eligibility, registration, and the complete process for a drone license.
About The Role
Drone pilots in India operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using remote controls.
They fly drones to capture images and videos or gather data for various purposes like surveillance, agriculture, or mapping. Pilots need to understand how drones work and follow safety rules.
They use controllers to navigate drones and monitor battery levels and weather conditions to ensure safe flights.
Drone pilots play a crucial role in industries like agriculture, filmmaking, and disaster management by providing valuable aerial perspectives without needing to be physically present in risky or hard-to-reach areas.
The different categories of Drones in India
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has classified various drones, or unmanned aircraft (UAs), as per their weight. Check the complete list of drones available in various sizes and designs below
| Nano Drones | less than or equal to 250 grams |
| Micro Drones | more than 250 grams but less than or equal to 2 kg. |
| Small Drones | more than 2kg – 25kg |
| Medium Drones | more than 25 kg and up to 150 kg |
| Large Drones | weighing more than 150 kg. |
NOTE: GoI mandates that every drone or UA has to be registered via the Digital Sky Platform.
What are the eligibility criteria for drone pilots in India?
A certificate as a remote pilot will be available to anyone between the ages of 18 and 65.
They should have finished the training required by the DGCA from any approved remote pilot training organization and have passed class 10 or its equivalent from a recognized board.
Once the remote pilot certificate for an individual is registered on the Digital Sky platform, it will be valid for ten years. Until and unless it is not suspended or canceled by DGCA for any reason,
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How do you register drones in India?
DGCA launched Digital Sky, an online portal to ease the complete registration and documentation procedures for drones and unmanned aircraft. Check out the step-by-step guide below:
Step 1: Visit the Digital Sky Portal.
Step 2: Select the category in which you want to be registered. For example, a remote pilot, operator, or manufacturer.
Step 3: Click on the required subcategory
Step 4: Finally, click on Register.
Step 5: Now, you need to fill up the mandatory fields with appropriate information and then click on Sign Up.
Once your registration has been completed with the Digital Sky Platform, you will receive a notification in your registered email ID. Click on the link provided in the email and provide information about your drone. Once you have selected your drone profile, fill in the page with the required information. Do not forget to submit your training certificate to get registered.
How do you get a drone license in India?
Once you have successfully registered with the Digital Sky Platform, you will be required to choose any of the following options to get a drone license:
Step 1: Pick from the below options.
- Apply here for Local Drones (manufactured in India)
- Apply here for imported Drones (manufactured abroad)
- Apply here for the UAOP License
Step 2: Fill in all the required credentials. Such as,
- Name, address, and PAN details of the owner
- Drone Type
- Model Number
- Serial Number
- OEM Certificate (certificate received from manufacturer)
- NPL Letter
- Name, address, and Manufacturer’s nationality
- Maximum take-off weight and height attainable
- Details of compatible payload
Step 3: Make payments to complete the procedure for UIN. The various registration fees are:
- UIN: Rs 1000
- UAOP License: Rs. 25,000
- Renewable of UAOP: Rs 10,000.
According to the Government Aviation Training Institute, GoI mandates that every drone or UA has to be registered via the Digital Sky Platform, and in return, a UIN and UAOL license will be issued.
Further, you need to be adequately trained and get all the required permissions before becoming a licensed drone pilot.
Other than this, users need to get a one-time registration for their drone, pilots, and owners.
Then the NPNT app will be installed in your mobile app, which helps to distinguish between unauthorized flights and threats to public security.
Any drone that does not have a digital permit shall abide by it and will not take off.
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