India is expected to generate at least 1 lakh Drone Pilot jobs
‘Futuristic jobs’ seems to be the buzzword. How about a drone pilot? The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) Government of India in February 2022, removed the requirement of a drone pilot license for operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones in the country. As per the current law, anyone in India with Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) issued by any DGCA-approved drone school can fly a drone in India. Here is a look into the potential market for drones in India.
The use of drones for commercial purposes started gaining attention after e-commerce giant Amazon announced in 2013 that they will use drones for 60 minute package delivery. Here is a list of areas in which drones find a place:
Agriculture
Drones are used in agriculture to improve operational efficiency, crop yield, and crop growth monitoring. In January 2022, the government of India has given a green signal to carry a payload that does not include chemicals or other liquids used in spraying on drones. According to research by BlueWeave Consulting, the agricultural drone market in India will witness a four-fold increase by 2028.
Medical
UAVs can be used to deliver medicines and medical equipments to remote places where transportation facilities are difficult. Medicine from the Sky initiative by the World Economic Forum is using drones to deliver vaccines and medicine to remote areas in India. The initiative has already conducted a successful trial run in the state of Telangana.
Media
Aerial photography for journalism and film, gathering information for effective disaster management, and thermal sensors for search and rescue operations can be done effectively using the UAV technology. This is now gaining momentum in India. It can also be used in disaster-hit areas for effective communication. During the 2022 floods in Assam Garuda Aerospace used disaster relief drones to supply food and Medicines to the affected people.
Infrastructure
The government of India has already started the use of drones to examine infrastructure projects including solar and wind energy projects, and the construction of highways and bridges. Moreover, the Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) launched in 2021 is using drones for the survey.
The Market for UAVs in India
According to the official website of The Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the drone market is expected to contribute to 4-5% of the total GDP of India. The current valuation of drone manufacturing industries in India is about 90 crore rupees. As per NITI Aayog, the Indian market for UAVs will be $50 billion over the next 15 years.
The Union government of India has promised a total of 120 crore rupees as a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) for 23 drone-making companies. Some of the startups selected for the scheme are Aarav Unmanned Systems, Garuda Aerospace, ideaForge, etc.
Vipul Joshi, Co-founder and Vice President-Operations of the drone startup, ideaForge in an interview said, “raising capital for developing UAV technologies is difficult,” adding that the PLI scheme will help boost funding.
Jobs related to UAVs and drones in India
Those who are interested in the drone industry can take up a variety of jobs related to the area from initiating a drone manufacturing startup to becoming a drone pilot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022’ said that India will become a drone hub by 2030. The GoI is planning to widen the scope of UAV usage in various economic sectors in India.
Drone Production
The Indian government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the ban on imported drones will ensure that there is an enormous growth in the UAV manufacturing sector.
Drone Software Developer
Drones need efficient software for smooth functioning and to prevent it from cyber threats or external attacks. It is one of the most crucial jobs in the industry as the whole functioning of the drones depends on the software.
Drone Pilot Trainers
Trainers are very much essential to ensure that the people aspiring to become drone pilots are receiving enough training before entering into their field of work. The trainers are required to have an authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Drone Pilot
A person trained to operate a drone or a UAV is essential for its working. That person should also be trained with a sector specific specialization. A drone pilot license in India can be obtained from institutes which are approved by the DGCA.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation remarked in January 2022 that in the coming years, India is expected to generate at least 1 lakh Drone Pilot jobs.
Some of the Most Successful Drone Start-ups in India
Aarav Unmanned Systems, Bengaluru
Aotom Technology, Nagpur
BharatRohan, Hyderabad
Garuda Aerospace, Chennai
ideaForge, Mumbai
Enercomb Solutions, Ahmadabad
General Aeronautics, Bengaluru
IoTechWold, Delhi-NCR
Throttle Aerospace, Bengaluru
Skylark Drones, Bengaluru
