Hanoi, July 01: India’s drone industry has entered a new phase of expansion, but its long-term growth will depend on strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on imported components, according to a report that highlights the country’s rapidly evolving unmanned aerial systems ecosystem.
The report, published in Vietnam Times, states that while demand from defence and commercial sectors continues to grow, the industry’s future competitiveness will increasingly depend on complete project execution and the development of indigenous capabilities in critical components such as sensors, propulsion systems and specialised payloads.
According to the report, India’s drone ecosystem has transitioned from a defence-led and fragmented manufacturing model into a structured industry encompassing manufacturing, software development, service delivery and training infrastructure.
As of February 2026, the country had registered more than 38,500 drones, certified 39,890 remote pilots and approved over 240 drone training organisations. The report attributes this expansion to policy reforms, evolving strategic requirements and the emergence of new commercial applications across multiple sectors.
It notes that drones are now widely deployed in agriculture, infrastructure, logistics and governance, transforming them from specialised aviation platforms into essential operational tools that improve efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen service delivery.
The report identifies India as one of the world’s fastest-growing drone markets, driven by sustained government policy support and increasing adoption across industries. It states that unmanned aerial systems have become integral to surveillance, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, logistics and other defence operations, offering faster deployment and lower operating costs than many conventional systems.
According to the report, recent geopolitical developments have further reinforced the need for reliable indigenous drone technologies, making domestically developed unmanned systems a strategic priority for national security.
The report also highlights the expanding role of drones in public administration and rural development. Under the SVAMITVA Scheme launched on April 24, 2020, drone-based surveys have been completed in 3.28 lakh villages across India, resulting in the distribution of 2.76 crore property cards in 1.82 lakh villages spread across 31 states. It states that the initiative has strengthened land record management, improved property ownership documentation and helped reduce disputes.
In the agriculture sector, drones are increasingly supporting precision farming and rural livelihoods. According to the report, 1,094 drones have been distributed to women’s self-help groups, including more than 500 under the Namo Drone Didi initiative, enabling precision spraying and improving farm productivity.
The report projects significant employment opportunities as the sector expands, estimating that the drone industry could generate more than 1,20,000 jobs in manufacturing and over 6,00,000 positions in the services sector.
It concludes that India’s emphasis on export-oriented production, coupled with continued policy support and indigenous manufacturing, is strengthening the country’s position as an emerging global hub for drone manufacturing, technology development and drone-based service delivery.
