Centre Selects 23 Beneficiaries under PLI Scheme for Drones & Drone Components

For the purpose of offering a production-linked incentive (PLI) for indigenous drone and drone components, the Aviation Ministry has shortlisted 23 beneficiary companies.

The shortlisted beneficiaries include 12 drone producers and 11 drone component producers. On May 4, 2022, the Ministry issued an invitation to interested manufacturers, and the deadline for submission was May 20, 2022.

Based on the unaudited financial figures for 2021–2022 and other data, a provisional list of PLI recipients has been created.

Between FY 2020–21 and FY 2021–22, the cumulative yearly sales turnover of the chosen beneficiaries/companies increased from Rs. 88 crore to Rs. 319 crore (unaudited).

A value addition of more than 40% of sales turnover is required to qualify for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components, as well as an annual sales turnover of Rs. 2 crore for drone companies and Rs. 50 lac for manufacturers of drone components.

On September 30, 2021, PLI plan for drones and drone parts was announced. A total incentive of Rs. 120 crore is offered under the scheme over three fiscal years.

The PLI rate, which is one of the highest among PLI schemes, is 20% of value addition.

Additionally, the incentive-based scheme for drone manufacturing's second phase's budgetary outlay is already being discussed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Finance Ministry.

The process for obtaining drone certification clearances is being accelerated by the aviation ministry.

In addition to the PLI Scheme, the Indian government has implemented a number of reforms to transform India into a major drone hub by 2030. These include the publication of the Drone Airspace Map in 2021, notification of the liberalised Drone Rules, 2021, the UAS Traffic Management (UTM) policy framework, the Drone Certification Scheme in 2022, which makes it easier for drone manufacturers to obtain a type certificate, the Drone Import Policy in 2022, which forbids the import of drones made abroad, and the Drone (Amendment) Rules in 2022, which eliminates the requirement that drones be registered.