New Delhi: Drone operators may soon need to get their Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) registered with the authorities, failing which they may be fined or even sent to jail.
Those using drones may also have to get third party insurance policies to ensure that people receive compensated if they suffer any loss to their person or property in an accident involving the flying object. Drones will also have to be fitted with safety and security features to allow easier tracking.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released a draft of what is being called the Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025. This aims to make drone laws stricter in the country to prevent misuse.
“No person shall own or operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) unless it has been registered and issued with an Unique Identification Number (UIN) in a manner specified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. No UAS shall be sold or purchased or transferred, whether in offline mode or through online mode, unless it is registered and has been issued with an UIN; and the procedure for transfer including transfer by way of sale and de-registration of unmanned aircraft systems shall be as prescribed by the Central govt,” the draft rule says.
Apart for fines, the Bill talks of prison terms ranging between three months to three years for violations. Sources in the ministry said that new rules are important to prevent the use of drones for surveillance and other activities by anti-national elements.
Under the new rules, air space will be divided into green, yellow and red zones. While unrestricted flying of drones will be allowed in the green zone, their use in the yellow zone will be restricted by Air Traffic Controllers. Drones can only be flown in the red zone with special permission.
Drones used by the security forces or government agencies and those weighing over 500 kg are exempt.
All stakeholders in the drone industry and the public have been given time till September 30 to respond to the draft. Responses can be sent to the Ministry by email: us.sdit-moca.gov.in and sdit.div@moca.gov.in with the subject specified as ‘Draft Civil Drone Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025’.
“We are still studying it. A preliminary glance reveals that the liberalised rules of August 2021 have now been made more stringent. The drone industry is presently a Rs 3,000 crore industry and is booming presently. It is expected to touch 11.06 billion dollars by 2030,” said Smit Shah, president, Drone Federation India.