India Drone Market Overview, 2028

India's drone industry has seen rapid growth, with thousands of drones being registered and operated for various purposes. The industry has expanded beyond hobbyists to include commercial and government applications. Drones are widely used for mapping, surveying, and geospatial applications. They provide accurate and high-resolution data for urban planning, infrastructure development, and land surveying. Drones are widely used for mapping, surveying, and geospatial applications. They provide accurate and high-resolution data for urban planning, infrastructure development, and land surveying. Drones have become valuable tools for precision agriculture in India. They are used for crop monitoring, pest control, and irrigation management, helping farmers increase crop yields and reduce resource wastage. Drones are invaluable in search and rescue missions in challenging terrains, such as the Himalayas. They can locate missing hikers and provide crucial assistance in emergencies. Drones are used to inspect and clean solar panels in large solar farms, improving energy production efficiency. India's Smart Cities Mission has incorporated drones for urban planning and development. Drones are used to create 3D models of cities, assess infrastructure needs, and monitor on-going projects. By FY2024, the Government of India expects the total turnover of the drone manufacturing industry to increase to Rs.900 crore from Rs.60-80 crore at present. Recently PM Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Drone Mahotsav’ to encourage the Drone Industry where he highlighted the importance of drone technology in the fields of defence, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, etc. The number of drone-based startups from August 2021 to February 2022 period which was mainly because of the PLI scheme which was launched in August 2021. The PLI scheme envisages an outlay of Rs.120 crores for 3 years to manufacture drones and imposed a ban on drone imports. This scheme was expected to 2x the combined sales turnover of all domestic drone manufacturers in India. Various NGOs and humanitarian organizations in India use drones for social impact initiatives, including providing medical supplies to remote villages and disaster relief efforts.

According to the research report "India Drone Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the India Drone market is anticipated to grow at more than 106.74% CAGR from 2023 to 2028. The Indian drone market was witnessing significant growth in commercial applications across various industries. Sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, construction, mining, and energy were increasingly utilizing drones for tasks such as mapping, surveying, and monitoring. Drones were being used for remote sensing applications beyond agriculture. They were employed for monitoring forests, land use, and environmental changes, aiding in natural resource management and conservation. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into drone technology allowed for advanced data analytics and automated decision-making based on drone-captured data. Drones are increasingly used to monitor traffic congestion, road conditions, and accidents, helping authorities optimize traffic management and reduce congestion in urban areas. Drones are being explored for precision delivery of items like organs for transplant, emergency medical supplies, and time-sensitive documents, improving delivery speed and accuracy. Enhanced geofencing technology and no-fly zone databases are helping ensure safer and more responsible drone operations, reducing the risk of airspace violations. India is exploring the potential for cross-border drone operations, allowing drones to traverse international boundaries for various applications, including surveillance and humanitarian missions. The logistics and e-commerce sectors are actively exploring the use of drones for delivering parcels and cargo, aiming to enhance last-mile delivery efficiency.

Based on product type the market is divided into Commercial Drone, Military Drone and Consumer Drone. Commercial drones find applications across a wide range of industries, making them highly versatile tools. These applications include agriculture, construction, infrastructure inspection, mining, energy, real estate, and more. The ability to cater to multiple sectors contributes to a larger market share. Precision agriculture is one of the leading drivers of the commercial drone market in India. Drones equipped with multispectral cameras and sensors assist farmers in crop monitoring, pest control, and yield optimization. The agriculture sector in India is vast, and the adoption of drones for precision farming is growing rapidly. While still in the experimental phase, drone delivery services in the logistics and e-commerce sectors have the potential to revolutionize last-mile delivery. Companies are exploring drone deliveries to reach remote and urban areas efficiently. In addition, India shares borders with several neighbouring countries, and maintaining border security is a top priority. Military drones are instrumental in border surveillance, providing real-time aerial reconnaissance to monitor activities along the borders, detect infiltrations, and respond to security threats. Military drones play a crucial role in search and rescue missions, especially in remote and hostile terrains. They can quickly locate and assess the condition of survivors, making them invaluable in disaster response and humanitarian efforts.

In terms of type the market is divided into fixed wing, rotary wing and hybrid. Rotary wing drones, including quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters, are highly versatile and suitable for various applications. They can hover, take off vertically, and perform agile maneuvers, making them ideal for tasks such as aerial photography, surveillance, and monitoring. Rotary wing drones are well-suited for close-range operations, especially in urban and densely populated areas. Their ability to hover and navigate in confined spaces is valuable for tasks like infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and law enforcement. These drones can carry a variety of payloads, including high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging cameras, multispectral sensors, LiDAR, and more. This flexibility makes them suitable for diverse applications, including mapping, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue. Rotary wing drones are relatively easier to operate compared to fixed-wing drones, making them accessible to a wide range of users, including businesses, government agencies, and hobbyists. Rotary wing drones can be quickly deployed and are well-suited for scenarios requiring immediate aerial assessment, such as disaster response, accident investigation, and emergency medical deliveries.

Based on payload the market is segmented into Drones Up to 25 kg, Drones from 25 Kg- 150 Kg and Drones more tham 150 Kg. Drones with a payload capacity of more than 150 kg are particularly suitable for heavy cargo transportation. They are used to transport goods, supplies, and equipment to remote and inaccessible areas, especially in regions with challenging terrain or limited road infrastructure. This capability is valuable for industries such as logistics, e-commerce, and emergency response. Large drones are instrumental in disaster relief efforts. They can transport emergency supplies, medical equipment, and humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken areas, including regions affected by floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The ability to rapidly deploy relief supplies is crucial for saving lives and mitigating damage. Large drones are instrumental in disaster relief efforts. They can transport emergency supplies, medical equipment, and humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken areas, including regions affected by floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The ability to rapidly deploy relief supplies is crucial for saving lives and mitigating damage.



Recent Developments:
• In September 2021, NeoSky India Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of RattanIndia Enterprises, announced the beginning of its drone operations. A drone system platform targeted towards business applications will be created by NeoSky India. Additionally, the business recently invested strategically in Matternet, a US-based startup that specialises in urban drone logistics and has been actively developing a drone logistics platform.
• DCM Shriram Industries said in August 2021 that it will purchase a 30% stake in the Turkish drone business Zyrone Dynamics in order to develop products for civilian use, particularly for cargo transportation. India and the Asian market are where Zyrone will offer its goods.

Considered in this report:
• Geography: India
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report:
• India Drone market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product Type
• Commercial Drone
• Military Drone
• Consumer Drone

By Type
• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Wing
• Hybrid

By Payload
• Drones Up to 25 Kg
• Drones from 25 Kg - 150 Kg
• Drones More than 150 Kg

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, and annual reports of companies, analyzing the government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the Drone industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.