About 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.
- Similarly, manufacturers would be required to obtain a type certification from DGCA before their drones can be sold or operated in India.
- Safety, Security Features Compulsory:
- 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.
- Compulsory Insurance for Operators:
- Notably, provision for insurance has been made compulsory, with third-party coverage required for all operators unless specifically exempted by the government.
- The insurance company shall, upon receiving information of the accident, either from the claimant or through an accident information report or otherwise, designate an officer to settle the claims relating to such accident.
- Digital Sky Zones Retained:
- Draft retains the concept of a ‘Digital Sky’ online platform of zoning that will segregate skies into green, yellow, and red zones.
- While operations in green zones will be freely permitted, flying in yellow zones will require clearance from air traffic control.
- No person shall operate an UAS in a red zone without prior permission from the central government and the red zone creating agencies.
- Violations in restricted airspace have been classified as cognisable and non-compoundable offences, attracting up to three years’ imprisonment or fines extending to ₹1 lakh.
- Compensation for Victims Proposed: The owner of the UAS or the authorised insurer shall be liable to pay, in the case of death or grievous hurt due to any accident arising out of the use of unmanned aircraft system, a compensation of a sum of 2.5 lakh rupees in case of death or one lakh rupees in case of grievous hurt to the legal heirs or the victim, as the case may be.
- Claim Tribunals to Handle Drone Cases: The ‘Motor Accident Claim Tribunals’ has been proposed to be designated as the claim tribunal for the purpose of adjudicating upon claims for compensation in respect of accidents involving the use of UASs.
- 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.
