On August 21, 2024, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a crucial amendment to the Drone Rules, 2021, to support the Prime Minister’s “Drone Ki Udaan” initiative. This initiative, aimed at empowering women’s self-help groups through training and financial aid for drone operation and maintenance, identified a significant hurdle: many potential drone owners lacked passports.
To address this, the amendment replaces the requirement for an Indian passport with alternative identification options such as a voter ID card, a ration card, or a driving license. This change applies to key forms involved in drone registration, de-registration, and ownership transfer, thereby simplifying the process and broadening access. The amendment underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the ease of doing business and expanding drone technology’s reach in public service. The new rules took effect upon their publication in the Official Gazette.
