Defence Minister Calls for India to Become Global Hub for Indigenous Drone Manufacturing

Drones and counter-drone technologies are emerging as critical tools in modern warfare, with India focusing on building a robust domestic drone ecosystem for strategic autonomy.

Drones in Warfare & India’s Ecosystem :

Aspect	Key Details
Strategic Importance	Drones enhance defence preparedness and enable cost-effective, technology-driven warfare.
Surveillance Role	Provide real-time, high-definition monitoring of enemy movements without risking troops.
Suppression of Defences	Used to saturate enemy air defence systems (e.g., swarm drone tactics).
Low-Cost Warfare	Affordable UAVs enable deep-strike capabilities with high strategic impact.
Electronic Warfare	Drones can jam or spoof enemy radar and communication systems.
PLI Scheme	Promotes domestic manufacturing of drones and components.
Import Policy	Ban on import of drones in CBU, SKD and CKD forms to boost local production.
Tax Reform	GST reduced to 5% to encourage industry growth.
Promotion Platforms	Bharat Drone Shakti, Bharat Drone Mahotsav and Drone International Expo support innovation and startups.
Human Resource Development	SwaYaan programme for capacity building in unmanned aircraft systems.
Overall Goal	Achieve strategic autonomy, strengthen defence capabilities and build a self-reliant drone ecosystem.