Hyderabad: Certified drone manufacturers in India have raised serious concerns over the widespread use and illegal sale of non-type certified drones, particularly those imported from China. These uncertified UAVs, industry representatives warn, violate the DGCA’s Drone Rules 2021, endanger public safety, and could compromise national security.Smith Shah, president of the Drone Federation of India, said the problem lies not in the absence of policy but in the failure of enforcement. “The policy is in place. These drones are usually brought into India through misdeclaration—either as separate parts or under misleading labels—and are assembled locally. When a drone is unregistered and flown without a licensed pilot, and especially if it can carry a few kilograms of payload, it becomes a potential national security threat,” he said.The influx of cheap Chinese drones, especially for agricultural use, has increased over the last few years. These drones often lack critical safety features like geo-fencing, return-to-home, and auto-landing, and are being operated by individuals without any formal pilot training. “A dumped Chinese drone is sold to a farmer, and when there is a malfunction or crop damage, the seller disappears,” Shah said. The lack of trained operators has also led to uneven spraying of pesticides, which causes phytotoxicity and threatens crop yields.Because non-TC drones have not undergone efficacy tests or chemical residue checks, their use on crops could lead to violations of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). This risks contaminating produce and triggering export rejections, which could affect India’s processed food chains and agricultural exports.According to Shah, the DGCA’s Drone Rules 2021 clearly prohibit the use of non-type certified drones, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has banned the import of fully built drones. However, enforcement by customs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and aviation regulators remains weak. “There is a prohibition. Customs, DRI, and DGCA must enforce it strictly,” he said.The issue also extends to the misuse of govt-backed subsidy schemes like Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). Certified drone sellers noted that sellers of non-TC drones have been misleading farmers by using forged documentation to claim eligibility for subsidies and bank loans. When loans are rejected or drones fail to perform, farmers are left without support or recourse.The role of YouTube influencers and online dealers is worsening the problem. “There are influencers openly promoting illegal drones and enabling their sale through WhatsApp and other informal channels,” a drone firm representative from Hyderabad said. These sellers often disappear after transactions, leaving buyers without service, support, or warranties.Penalties are possible under existing drone regulations, but industry insiders say enforcement remains rare. “These violations not only hurt certified players who invest heavily in R&D and training but also erode trust in the technology itself,” the representative of the Hyderabad firm said.
