Drone Rules 2021

DRONE RULES

Categorization of UAS: UAS shall be categorized as airplane, rotorcraft; and hybrid UAS.

The three categories shall be further sub-categorized as remotely piloted aircraft system; model remotely piloted aircraft system; autonomous unmanned aircraft system.

Classification of UAS (on basis of weight)

Nano UAS (weighing <=250 gm);

Micro UAS (weighing >=250 gm, but <=2 kg);

Small UAS (weighing > 2 kg, but <= 25 kg);

Medium UAS (weighing >25 kg, but <=150 kg);

Large UAS (weighing > 150 kg)

Type certification

The Director General, may, on the recommendation of the Quality Council of India, issue a type certificate for any particular type of UAS.

Application and procedure for type certificate: Any person, who intends to obtain a type certificate, shall fill Form D-1 on the digital sky platform along with the fee.

The Quality Council of India shall examine the proposal and submit the test report to the Director General within sixty days from the date of application. On the basis of test report, the Director General shall issue to the applicant a type certificate for the UAS within fifteen days of receiving test report.

Imports: Import of unmanned aircraft systems shall be regulated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade or any other entity authorized by the Central Government.

Mandatory safety features:

‘No Permission – No Take-off’
hardware and firmware
Real-time tracking
Geo-fencing capability.

NOTE: No type certificate shall be required for operating- a model remotely piloted aircraft system and a nano UAS

Registration of UAS

No person shall operate an UAS without first registering it on the digital sky platform and obtaining a unique identification number. A registration record shall be maintained by the Director General of all such UAS to which unique identification number has been issued.

Application and procedure for registration: Any person who intends to register and obtain a unique identification number for UAS shall fill Form D-2 on the digital sky platform along with the fee and provide details including the unique number of the type certificate.

Registration of existing and transfer of UAS: A person owning an UAS manufactured in India before the 30th day of November, 2021 shall, within a period of 31 days, make an application to register and obtain a unique identification number for his UAS.

A person may transfer an UAS to another person by selling, lease, gift or any other mode, after providing details of the transferor, transferee and unique identification number of the unmanned aircraft system in Form D-3.

UAS OPERATION AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Airspace map: central govt. may publish, an airspace map for UAS operations segregating the entire airspace of India into RED ZONE (temporarily prohibits UAS flights in any specified area for max. 96 hrs), YELLOW ZONE (permission required to operate) and GREEN ZONE (no prior permission required to operate), with a horizontal resolution equal or finer than 10 meters.

The airspace map for UAS shall be accessible through a Programming Interface and interactive so that UAS pilots be able to plot their proposed flight plan and easily identify the zone within which it falls so as to assess whether or not they need to make an application for prior approval.

Traffic management: Prohibition on carriage of arms, ammunition, explosives, military stores and dangerous goods. Right of way and safety operations needs to assured by the pilots. Accidents shall be mandatorily reported with 48 hrs on the digital sky platform.

REMOTE PILOT LICENCE (nano and micro UAS do not require a licence)

An individual above 18 and below 65 years of age; passed class 10th examination; having successfully completed specified training (form D-5 needs to be filled for training) is eligible for a remote pilot licence and shall fill form D-4 on digital sky platform and pay the fee.

A remote pilot licence shall be valid for 10 years (unless suspended or cancelled) and can be renewed thereafter for next 10 years on payment of fee.

UAS for RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT and TESTING (operation allowed only in green zone)

Any research and development entity, any educational institution (under or recognised by, the Central Government or State Government or Union Territory Administration) any recognised start-up, any authorised testing entity and manufacturer shall NOT require a type certificate, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for operating UAS

INSURANCE: The provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and rules made thereunder shall apply. Provided that a nano unmanned aircraft system may operate without third party insurance.

NOTE: new directions can be issued by the central govt. at any point of time. All person should abide by the rules and regulations set by the authority failing to which may result to penalties, suspension or cancellation of the licence.

Abbreviations: UAS: Unmanned aircraft system; govt.: government; >=: greater than or equal to; <=: less than or equal to; gm: grams; kg: kilograms