Draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently made public the Draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025, and invited feedback from stakeholders and citizens
- Draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation Bill) 2025 released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation Bill) 2025 proposed provisions such as mandatory registration, safety and security features, as well as insurance, amongst other requirements for unmanned aircraft systems’ (UASs) operations in the country.
- The law covers individuals and entities engaged in drone ownership, operation, design, manufacture, import, export, leasing, training or maintenance, but excludes unmanned aircraft used by the armed forces or those weighing over 500 kilograms, which will be governed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam.
- DGCA Retained as Regulator:
- It retains the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the primary regulatory authority.
- The draft mandates that no drone will be allowed to operate without registration and issuance of a Unique Identification Number (UIN) by the DGCA.
- No person shall manufacture or assemble, offer for sale, transfer or cause to transfer, operate or cause to operate any UAS that does not incorporate the mandatory safety and security features as prescribed by the central government or unless the UAS is exempted from such requirement.
- These features are intended to ensure airworthiness, prevent tampering, and enable traceability of drone operations.
- Punishment:
- Any person who contravenes the provisions of this Act shall be punishable with a fine up to ₹50,000 or an imprisonment which may extend to three months or both, and for any second or subsequent offence with a fine up to ₹1 lakh or an imprisonment which may extend to six months or both.
- Any offence involving carriage of dangerous goods by a civil UAS, or use of a civil UAS as a weapon, shall be cognizable and non-compoundable.
- The Director General or any other officer authorised in this behalf may seize and confiscate the UAS, documents, records, devices or things which may be useful for, or relevant to, the investigation of such offence.
