Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

Drone Firms Push for Easier Rules

 

Drone Firms Push for Easier Rules to Soar Beyond BVLOS

Extract from the article:
The Economic Times article sheds light on the burgeoning drone industry in India, emphasizing how companies are advocating for relaxed regulations to enable operations beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). Currently, stringent rules restrict drone flights within the direct sight of the pilot, hampering the scalability and commercial potential of drone applications, especially in delivery, surveillance, and agriculture. Drone firms argue that easing these regulations would open unprecedented avenues for innovation, efficiency, and widespread adoption across sectors. A collective push from various stakeholders, ranging from startups to industry associations, highlights the pressing need for government intervention to create a more enabling regulatory ecosystem.

Furthermore, the article hints at the strategic advantage for India to become a global pioneer in drone technology by embracing progressive policies. With the government’s proactive “Drone Policy 2.0” framework already setting some promising milestones, industry leaders suggest that streamlining certification, improving operational guidance, and fostering public-private collaboration will be decisive in unlocking India's full potential in the drone domain. The narrative is clear — without liberalizing the BVLOS restrictions, India’s drone revolution may remain grounded, limiting not only economic growth but also the technological leapfrog the country urgently requires.

My Take:

A. CONGRATS - AND A CHALLENGE

"Just viewed a video about your drones and got , both impressed and proud... India can leapfrog the rest of the world in drone delivery of everything ( - an essential condition for E Commerce to flourish ). It may even get adopted as THE STANDARD for the entire Drone Manufacturing Industry, world-wide... A Swarm-O-Drone is born [ Swarm-O-Drone = A Drone with built in Swarm Algorithm for collision avoidance ]. Look out for this headline in Media within 2 / 3 years, by which time, millions of drones would be flying overhead."

Reflecting on this prophetic insight from several years ago, it strikes me how the current call for easier BVLOS operations dovetails perfectly with the vision I outlined back then. The “Swarm-O-Drone” concept was about collective intelligence and collision avoidance—the necessary backbone technology that needs regulatory freedom to manifest fully. Today’s struggles against restrictive flight boundaries impede the swift adoption of such innovations, keeping India from leading the global pack. My conviction was, and remains, that systemic enablers—both technical and regulatory—must harmonize to see a drone ecosystem take off, literally and figuratively. The ongoing industry push is both a vindication of that early foresight and a reminder of the road still to be traveled.

B. Thank You Shri Jayant Sinhaji - Drones: Out of Sight, But in Indian Govt’s Mind

"As of today, India has barely 40,000 drones but you have laid a solid foundation through Drone Policy 2.0, to reach by 2023 following targets: # 1,000,000 drones # 500,000 drone pilots # 1,000 Manufacturers # 100,000 drone operators."

Looking back at this blog, I express admiration for the drone policy framework set forth in India, which indeed laid the groundwork for industry growth. This policy’s bold, quantifiable targets underpinned a vision to legitimize and mainstream drone technology nationwide. Yet, as the current article underscores, ambition must be matched with operational flexibility. Policies provide scaffolding, but without easing the BVLOS constraints, the infrastructure cannot support the envisioned scale and diversity of use cases. Revisiting these numbers today reinforces the message that regulatory environments must evolve dynamically, responding to technological advances and business demands to ensure those targets are not just aspirational, but achievable.

C. Reliance Industries Makes Investment in Drones

"Initially we will employ manual 'Delivery Persons' for this but, before long, we will deploy a fleet of autonomous DRONES for this purpose... These drones will get their 'Delivery Instructions' directly from our Web Server, for all ONLINE orders... This fleet will cover 'Kirana Stores' and 'Online Customers' located in pre-designated areas covering 4 sq km (2 km x 2 km)."

This observation from 2019 anticipated the commercialization and automation of drone delivery within urban and semi-urban ecosystems. Reliance's venture into drones speaks volumes about the strategic importance of this technology in the retail and logistics sectors. The current regulatory appetite for easing BVLOS constraints directly impacts such commercial initiatives’ feasibility and scale. The reliance on autonomous drone fleets controlled by centralized systems demands a legal latitude that permits beyond-visual flights, thus enhancing coverage and operational efficiency. This alignment between business strategy and regulatory reform encapsulates the essence of the drone industry’s push today — not just innovation for the sake of it, but innovation supported by enabling governance to drive real-world impact and economic transformation.

Call to Action:
To policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders mentioned in the article and beyond, I urge you to accelerate the reassessment and reform of BVLOS regulations. The current restrictive framework places an unnecessary bottleneck on India’s enormous potential in the drone sector. Embrace risk-based, technology-neutral regulations that encourage innovation while assuring safety. Facilitate certification pathways that are clear, swift, and affordable for drone operators and manufacturers. Engage deeply with the private sector to co-create an operational ecosystem that supports autonomous, long-range drone applications spanning commerce, agriculture, surveillance, and emergency services. This is a pivotal moment for India to leapfrog into the frontlines of global drone leadership — let the skies open up, not shut down.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

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