New Delhi, May 27 (FN Agency) Inaugurating India’s biggest drone festival ‘Bharat Drone Mahotsava’ in the capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited investors and experts from across the globe to come to India and invest in drone technology while saying “India has the potential of becoming a global drone hub.” “I invite investors and experts from across the globe to come to India and invest in drone technology in India. I request all startups and the youth to work towards developing solutions for better development outcomes with the help of drones. I also urge the youth of India to create startups in the drone sector and empower the common man with technology,” he said. Talking about the revolutionary changes that drones can bring in coming times, Prime Minister revealed that he uses drones to monitor the progress of government works. “We are going to witness more use of drones in future. I used to regularly monitor Kedarnath development work during review meetings. Today I can see the quality of government work with the help of drones. It’s not essential that I go there physically, else everything will be made alright there. I send drones and get details without anyone coming to know about it,” he said.
The Prime Minister said technology was considered to be problematic in times of earlier governments and there were attempts to prove it anti-poor causing lack of interest for its use in governance prior to 2014. “This harmed our poor and the deprived. We ensured that technology is part of a positive disruption that can help government reach the remotest corners of the country,” he said. The Prime Minister said that until a few months ago, there were a lot of restrictions on drones which the government removed. “We have removed most of the restrictions in a very short time. We are also moving towards creating a robust ecosystem of drone manufacturing in India through schemes like PLI. Technology has played an important role in strengthening last mile delivery and reaching beneficiaries across the nation,” he said. Modi said drones are a smart tool for us and will soon become a part of the life of every citizen. “From agriculture, to defence, to tourism, to healthcare, drones will help in improving quality and content across sectors in the country. Drones are going to play a vital role in making the lives of our farmers better. Svamitva yojana is a great example of this.
It has helped in digital mapping of property in villages. It has reduced human intervention and increased transparency. 65,000 property cards have been issued so far,” he said. The Prime Minister said in earlier times, technology and its inventions were considered for the elite class but today the government is making technology available to the masses first. Technology is not for the rich only, we are working to change this mentality and using technology for everyone’s betterment, he said. The Prime Minister claimed that due to India’s startup power, the country is marching ahead with great speed on becoming the drone technology hub of the world. “The quantum jump in the drone industry in India shows the possibilities of an emerging large sector of employment generation in India,” he said. The Prime Minister said he had the chance to interact with drone engineers and startups at the Mahotsava and it was heartening for him see them say, ‘Sir all this is Made in India’. He said the energy that is visible is a reflection of the long leap of drone service and drone-based industry in India and it shows the potential of an emerging large sector of employment generation in India. Speaking at the two day Mahotsava, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said by 2026, the drone industry in India will become a Rs 15,000 crore industry and drones will create 10,000 jobs in the field of production and 5 lakh in the field of services in India:
“As we say in English- nothing is greater than the idea whose time has come. Drones is the idea whose time has come in India,” the minister said. Over 1600 delegates comprising government officials, foreign diplomats, armed forces, central armed police forces, PSUs, private companies and drone startups etc. are taking part in the Bharat Drone Mahotsav. More than 70 exhibitors are displaying various use cases of drones at the exhibition. The Mahotsav also witnessed a virtual award of drone pilot certificates, product launches, panel discussions, flying demonstrations, display of a Made in India Drone Taxi prototype, among others.