1 November 2026 • 5 min read
If you make, import or fly drones for business in India, four things decide whether you are legal: a type certificate for the drone model, a registration number for each drone, a remote pilot certificate for the person flying, and the airspace zone you fly in. The Drone Rules, 2021 replaced an earlier, stricter set of rules, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation has since moved most online services to a new platform. This page puts the main requirements in one place, with the date of each source.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation first published the UAS Rules in March 2021, and then repealed them after feedback from academia, startups and users that they were too restrictive. The Drone Rules, 2021 were notified on 25 August 2021 as a replacement.
The ministry's own list of changes at the time included:
A PIB backgrounder of 17 February 2026 says the rules were amended in 2022 and 2023. The figures above come from the 2021 notification, so check current fees on the DGCA portal.
| Requirement | Applies to | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Type certificate | Each drone model | Needed only when a drone is operated in India |
| Registration (UIN) | Each drone | Unique identification number, issued on the portal |
| Remote pilot certificate | Each pilot | Issued by an approved training school; DGCA issues the licence |
| Airspace zone | Each flight | Green, yellow or red |
A type certificate is required only when a drone is to be operated in India. Drones made or imported purely for export are exempt from type certification and registration. Nano drones and model drones made for research or recreation are exempt from type certification.
Testing is done by the Quality Council of India (QCI) or authorised certification bodies. The rules allow 60 days to the QCI or certification body and 15 days to DGCA, which is 75 days in total, if all documents and test reports are in order. The first certificate under the rules went to IoTechWorld in June 2022, 34 days after its online application. At that time three certification bodies were approved: TQ Cert, UL India and Bureau Veritas. Check the QCI list for the current set.
Research and development entities flying in their own or rented premises in a green zone do not need a type certificate, a UIN or a remote pilot licence.
The February 2026 PIB backgrounder reports 38,575 drones registered and issued a UIN as of 9 February 2026. Manufacturers and importers can generate their drones' unique identification numbers on the portal through the self-certification route.
The traditional pilot licence was replaced by a Remote Pilot Certificate. A pilot trains at an approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation, receives the certificate through the portal, and DGCA issues the remote pilot licence within 15 days. As of February 2026, 39,890 certificates had been issued and DGCA had approved 244 training organisations. No remote pilot licence is needed for nano drones or for micro drones flown non-commercially.
The airspace map opened nearly 90% of Indian airspace as a green zone for drone flying up to 400 feet. No permission is needed to fly in a green zone. The 2021 rules also cut the yellow zone from 45 km to 12 km of an airport perimeter. For beyond-line-of-sight work, see our page on BVLOS drone operations.
Registration, remote pilot certification, type certification and training-organisation authorisation have moved from the Digital Sky platform to a platform called eGCA. Flight plans and the airspace map stay on Digital Sky. If an older guide sends you to Digital Sky for registration, it is out of date.
Rules and fees change; confirm current requirements with DGCA or a qualified adviser before you buy or fly.
The 2021 rules say imports are regulated by DGFT, and the DGCA import clearance was removed. A drone still needs a type certificate to be operated in India. PIB described the 2022 import policy as a ban on import of foreign drones, so check DGFT first.
The rules allow 75 days in total. The first certificate was issued in 34 days.
The 2021 notification says no remote pilot licence is required for micro drones (non-commercial use) and nano drones. For other work, plan on a Remote Pilot Certificate.
The 2021 notification set a maximum penalty of INR 1 lakh. Later amendments may have changed this.