India Drones Market: Key Investment & Growth Drivers, Forecast to 2033

IMARC Group's latest research publication "India Drones Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Component, Payload, Point of Sale, End Use Industry, and Region, 2025-2033" the India drones market size reached USD 1,210.0 Million in 2024. The market is expected to reach USD 2,578.0 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.80% during 2025-2033.

This detailed analysis primarily encompasses industry size, business trends, market share, key growth factors, and regional forecasts. The report offers a comprehensive overview and integrates research findings, market assessments, and data from different sources. It also includes pivotal market dynamics like drivers and challenges, while also highlighting growth opportunities, financial insights, technological improvements, emerging trends, and innovations. Besides this, the report provides regional market evaluation, along with a competitive landscape analysis.

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What are Drones?

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS), are aircraft operated either autonomously through onboard computers or remotely by pilots on the ground. These versatile flying machines have revolutionized industries ranging from agriculture and defense to logistics and entertainment. For example, companies like IdeaForge and Garuda Aerospace have transformed India's drone landscape through cutting-edge surveillance drones for defense applications and agricultural drones that help farmers optimize crop yields through precision monitoring and targeted spraying.

Key Market Trends and Drivers:

The India drones market is experiencing remarkable growth driven by transformative government initiatives, rapid technological advancements, and expanding applications across multiple sectors. The landscape is fundamentally changing-what began as niche defense technology has evolved into a mainstream business tool touching agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, and beyond. The government's progressive approach through "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" campaigns has created an ecosystem where domestic drone manufacturing is not just encouraged but actively incentivized through financial support and regulatory simplification. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme allocated Rs 120 crore initially for drone and drone component manufacturers, with plans to expand this to Rs 3,000 crore through the "Drone Shakti" initiative-a massive scale-up that reflects the government's commitment to making India a global drone hub by 2030.

What makes this moment particularly exciting is how multiple forces are converging simultaneously. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has systematically simplified drone regulations through the Drone Rules 2021, making it dramatically easier for companies to obtain approvals and operate commercially. The DigitalSky Platform now provides streamlined online management for all drone-related activities-from registration to flight permissions-eliminating bureaucratic friction that previously stifled innovation. In September 2025, the National Test House (NTH) in Ghaziabad was officially recognized as a certification body for drone type certification, offering approvals at the industry's lowest fee of just Rs 4.2 lakh, making compliance affordable for startups and MSMEs. The Indian Army announced it has started integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in drones and satellite systems for surveillance, logistics, cybersecurity, and training, demonstrating how defense applications continue expanding beyond traditional reconnaissance.

Agriculture has emerged as the killer application for drones in India, with adoption accelerating at remarkable rates. The agricultural drone market specifically reached USD 243.60 million and is projected to grow to USD 2,110.60 million, reflecting how farmers are embracing this technology for crop monitoring, pesticide spraying, and precision farming. States like Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have been at the forefront of integrating drones into agricultural activities. The government's "Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization" (SMAM) provides subsidies specifically for drone adoption, while the "Namo Drone Didi" scheme allocates Rs 500 crore to provide drones to 15,000 Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), aiming to empower rural women through Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) models. Maharashtra's implementation offers 80% subsidies (up to Rs 8 lakh per drone) to 325 Women SHGs in its first phase, creating both agricultural efficiency gains and entrepreneurial opportunities for women in rural areas.

In August 2024, Raminfo Limited launched Kisan Drones Private Limited with plans to establish 100 centers across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha within two years, aiming to create over 1,000 new entrepreneurs while providing farmers with advanced drone technology and training. Field mapping represents 35.4% of agricultural drone usage, followed by variable rate application at 24.6%, crop scouting at 18.2%, and other applications at 21.8%. These aren't theoretical applications-they're delivering measurable results through optimized yields, reduced pesticide usage, and efficient resource management that directly impact farmer profitability. Labor shortages plaguing Indian agriculture make automation through drones not just convenient but increasingly necessary for maintaining productivity.

The infrastructure inspection sector is witnessing equally impressive drone adoption. NTPC Darlipali Thermal Power Station in Odisha announced plans to use drones for pipeline inspection, reflecting how energy companies are embracing this cost-effective alternative to traditional inspection methods. Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) shared plans to use AI-powered drones to monitor the safety of concrete structures like viaducts and pillars, demonstrating how urban infrastructure maintenance is being revolutionized. Drones provide high-quality images, 3D models, and real-time data for inspecting bridges, power lines, roads, and buildings without requiring expensive equipment or exposing workers to hazardous conditions. As India undertakes massive infrastructure projects under various development schemes, the demand for efficient inspection technologies that enhance safety while reducing operational costs is driving drone adoption across construction, energy, and telecommunications sectors.

Delivery services represent the frontier application capturing public imagination and substantial investment. DTDC, a major Indian courier and cargo delivery company, launched drone-based deliveries through a partnership with Skye Air Mobility, aiming to reduce delivery times and costs while increasing customer satisfaction. Drones prove especially valuable for accessing remote or difficult-to-reach locations where conventional delivery poses logistical challenges. The technology reduces human resource requirements, accelerates last-mile delivery, and opens possibilities for serving areas where traditional logistics infrastructure is weak. As regulatory frameworks mature and drone capabilities improve, logistics applications are expected to expand dramatically, potentially transforming supply chain operations throughout India.

The technology itself is advancing at impressive pace. AI and machine learning integration enables autonomous flight operations, intelligent decision-making, and advanced data analytics. Modern drones equipped with AI capabilities perform complex tasks like automated obstacle avoidance, real-time route optimization, and predictive maintenance scheduling-features particularly valuable for defense surveillance, agricultural monitoring, and infrastructure inspection where precision and reliability are critical. AI-powered drones analyze vast amounts of data collected during flights, providing actionable insights for businesses and organizations. Mastercard's experience globally shows AI systems processing data from 125 billion annual transactions to identify patterns, and similar analytical capabilities are being deployed in drone operations to optimize performance and detect anomalies.

The startup ecosystem has exploded, with over 300 drone companies now operating in India. Major players include IdeaForge (which secured Ministry of Defence manufacturing licenses), DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations (providing comprehensive drone solutions from pilot training to specialized surveys), Garuda Aerospace (focusing on agricultural and defense applications), Skylark Drones (which launched DMO-AG software platform for agricultural drone management in February 2025), and Asteria Aerospace (developing indigenous drone technologies). International players are also investing-NewSpace raised $52 million in March 2024 and delivered SWARM drones to the Indian Army capable of hitting targets 50 km into enemy territory. Marut Drones raised $6.2 million from Lok Capital in 2024 for developing advanced agricultural drones. These funding rounds demonstrate investor confidence in India's drone trajectory.

The PLI scheme beneficiaries include 14 companies approved in the initial round, including established names like Dhaksha Unmanned (which received Rs 354 crore investment from Coromandel International, giving the agri-solutions provider 58.01% stake) and emerging startups across the value chain. The scheme provides 20% incentive on value addition-exceptional treatment compared to other sectors where PLI rates decrease annually. Manufacturers must achieve minimum value addition of 40% of net sales, with thresholds of Rs 2 crore annual sales for drone manufacturers and Rs 50 lakh for component manufacturers, making the scheme accessible to MSMEs and startups while encouraging domestic value addition.

The convergence of supportive policies, expanding applications, technological maturity, entrepreneurial energy, and investment capital has created conditions for sustained exponential growth. India isn't just adopting drones-it's building comprehensive manufacturing, innovation, and operational ecosystems that position the country as a significant player in global drone markets. The projection of 10,000 direct jobs being created over three years and annual sales turnover growing from Rs 60 crore to over Rs 900 crore reflects the transformative economic impact this sector is generating.

Recent News and Developments in India Drones Market

➤ September 2025: The National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad was officially recognized as a certification body for drone type certification, offering approvals at the industry's lowest fee of Rs 4.2 lakh, significantly reducing compliance costs for manufacturers.

➤ August 2024: Raminfo Limited launched Kisan Drones Private Limited, planning to establish 100 centers across five states within two years and create over 1,000 new entrepreneurs, transforming agricultural drone accessibility.

➤ July 2024: Optiemus Unmanned Systems introduced its latest collection of locally designed and produced drones for agricultural and mapping purposes at the 5th Drone International Expo in New Delhi.

➤ March 2024: NewSpace secured $52 million in funding for developing swarm drone technology for defense applications, including systems capable of hitting targets 50 km into enemy territory.

➤ February 2025: Skylark Drones launched DMO-AG at the Krishi Darshan Expo in Hisar-India's first comprehensive software platform for managing and operating agricultural drones nationwide.

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Leading Companies Operating in the India Drones Market:

➤ IdeaForge Technology Ltd
➤ Garuda Aerospace
➤ DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations
➤ Asteria Aerospace
➤ Skylark Drones
➤ NewSpace Research & Technologies
➤ Marut Drones
➤ Dhaksha Unmanned Systems

India Drones Market Report Segmentation:

Analysis by Type:
➤ Fixed Wing
➤ Rotary Wing
➤ Hybrid

Analysis by Component:
➤ Hardware
➤ Software
➤ Accessories

Analysis by Payload:
➤

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This release was published on openPR.