The government has approved the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components for implementation during the current year (2022-23) till 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 120 crore.
Based on the consultations/meetings with the stakeholders, including the industry representatives and the concerned departments, the operational guidelines of the PLI scheme for drones and drone components have been finalised. A statement from the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) said that the objective behind this scheme is to incentivise the manufacturing of drones so as to make them self-sustaining and globally competitive.
The statement said in order to make the country a global hub for the research and development, testing, manufacturing and operation of drones under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021, was released to create a growth-oriented regulatory framework for drones. To facilitate further growth, the government said it approved the PLI scheme for drones and drone components in India.
Some of the operational guidelines which were notified for the stakeholders and the public were based on the definitions of the companies; eligibility; application and online portal; project management agency (PMA), empowered group of secretaries (EGoS) and the Competent Authority; approval under PLI and determination of baseline and calculation and disbursement of incentives.
These applicants for the scheme are the companies registered in India that are manufacturing — drones and drone components. The manufacturing can be carried out at one or more locations in India.