US-Iran war CJP protest in Delhi US-Saudi nuclear deal Wildfires in Europe El Nino

Aviation ministry comes up with new draft drone policy; key takeaways

The Drone Rules, 2021 will replace the UAS Rules 2021 (released on 12 March 2021). The last date for receipt of public comments is 5 August 2021.

FP Staff|Jul 15, 2021, 16:51:24 IST

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released the updated – The Drone Rules, 2021 for public consultation. Built on a premise of trust, self-certification, and non-intrusive monitoring, The Drone Rules, 2021 will replace the UAS Rules 2021 (released on 12 March 2021). The last date for receipt of public comments is 5 August 2021.

Key takeaways from the Draft Drone Rules, 2021 include:

Approvals abolished: unique authorisation number, unique prototype identification number, certificate of conformance, certificate of maintenance, import clearance, acceptance of existing drones, operator permit, authorisation of R&D organisation, student remote pilot licence, remote pilot instructor authorisation, drone port authorisation etc.
Number of forms reduced from 25 to 6.
Fee reduced to nominal levels. No linkage with the size of the drone.
Safety features like ‘No permission – no take-off’ (NPNT), real-time tracking beacon, geo-fencing etc. to be notified in future. A six-month lead time will be provided for compliance.
Digital sky platform shall be developed as a business-friendly single-window online system.
There will be minimal human interface on the digital sky platform and most permissions will be self-generated.
Interactive airspace map with green, yellow, and red zones will be displayed on the digital sky platform.
Yellow zone reduced from 45 km to 12 km from the airport perimeter.
No flight permission required upto 400 feet in green zones and upto 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter.
No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drone and for R&D organisations.
No restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India.
Import of drones and drone components to be regulated by DGFT.
No security clearance required before any registration or licence issuance.
No requirement of certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for R&D entities.
Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will cover drone taxis also.
All drone training and testing to be carried out by an authorised drone school. DGCA shall prescribe training requirements, oversee drone schools and provide pilot licences online.
Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it.
Manufacturer may generate their drone’s unique identification number on the digital sky platform through the self-certification route.
Easier process prescribed for transfer and deregistration of drones.
Standard operating procedures (SOP) and training procedure manuals (TPM) will be prescribed by DGCA on the digital sky platform for self-monitoring by users. No approvals required unless there is a significant departure from the prescribed procedures.
Maximum penalty under Drone Rules, 2021 reduced to INR 1 lakh. This shall, however, not apply to penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.

Govt to set up fast-track courts for swift punishment in paper leak cases, says PM Modi amid CJP protests

Amid protests demanding accountability for the leak of medical entrance test Neet and other irregularities in the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.

1 min read

Sikkim tunnel collapse rescue resumes, death toll rises to 22

The death toll at the collapsed tunnel at Sikkim's Namchi district rose to 22 after nine more bodies were recovered overnight. At least 27 workers were trapped in a tunnel at an NHPC project after a sudden burst of suspected methane gas trapped within rock formations triggered an explosion.

2 min read

Delhi Police asks personnel to wear uniform: What the law says on cops in plainclothes during protests

The Delhi Police has instructed all its personnel to wear uniforms when they report for duty at Jantar Mantar for crowd control. This comes after outrage grew over videos of men in civilian clothes or without name tags hitting protesters in the Capital. Is it legal for the police to ditch uniforms during protests?

4 min read

No premium queues, 30-minute target: What changes for Indian passport applicants in UAE

Indian passport applicants in the UAE can now access passport, visa and attestation services through Alhind’s 16 centres, with no premium queues, a Dh19 service fee and a target of completing applications within 30 minutes

4 min read

CJP Protest in Delhi Live Updates: PM Modi announces announces fast-track courts for NEET paper leak cases

CJP Protest in Delhi Live Updates: Heavy security has been deployed at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is continuing its protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent paper leaks controversy