India Commercial Drone Market Size Likely to Surpass at a CAGR of 14.2% By 2033

As per the current market research conducted by the CMI Team, the India Commercial Drone Market size is expected to record a CAGR of 14.2% from 2024 to 2033. In 2024, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 374.7 Million. By 2033, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 1,237.8 Million.

India Commercial Drone Market: Growth Factors and Dynamics

• Regulatory Support and Policies: The Indian government has been proactive in creating a favorable regulatory environment for the commercial drone market. The introduction of the Drone Rules 2021 and the Digital Sky Platform has streamlined permissions and operations, encouraging the growth of drone usage in various sectors.

• Technological Advancements: Innovations in drone technology, including improvements in battery life, payload capacity, and navigation systems, have enhanced the capabilities and efficiency of commercial drones. This has widened their applicability across industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, and logistics.

• Increased Adoption in Agriculture: The agriculture sector in India has seen significant adoption of drones for tasks such as crop monitoring, pesticide spraying, and soil analysis. Drones provide precise and timely data, helping farmers increase yield and reduce costs, which drives demand.

• Infrastructure Development: Drones are being increasingly used for infrastructure development and monitoring in India. They are utilized for mapping, surveying, and inspecting construction sites, which improves project management and reduces manual labor and associated costs.

• E-commerce and Logistics: The rapid growth of the e-commerce sector in India has led to a surge in demand for efficient delivery solutions. Drones are being explored for last-mile delivery to enhance speed and reduce delivery costs, making logistics a significant growth driver for the commercial drone market.

• Investment and Start-up Ecosystem: India has seen a rise in investments and the emergence of numerous start-ups focused on drone technology. Venture capitalists and government initiatives such as the Start-up India scheme are providing financial support and incubation, fostering innovation and market expansion in the commercial drone sector.

• Public Safety and Surveillance: Drones are increasingly employed by government and law enforcement agencies for public safety, surveillance, and disaster management. Their ability to cover large areas quickly and provide real-time data makes them invaluable for monitoring large gatherings, traffic management, and search and rescue operations, thereby driving market growth.

• Cost Efficiency and Operational Benefits: The cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency offered by drones are significant growth drivers. Drones can perform tasks that traditionally require significant time, manpower, and resources, such as land surveying, inspection of hard-to-reach areas, and environmental monitoring, at a fraction of the cost and time, encouraging businesses to adopt this technology.

India Commercial Drone Market: Partnership and Acquisitions

• In 2024, BEML signed an MoU with Garuda Aerospace to assemble and integrate drones. This partnership aims to execute a developmental order, gain technological insights and establish necessary production facilities, enhancing India’s capabilities in the commercial drone market.

• In 2023, GalaxEye Space Solutions and ideaForge Technology partnered to develop a UAV with a foliage penetration radar for Indian security forces. ideaForge will integrate its UAV expertise with GalaxEye’s advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, enhancing surveillance capabilities.

Report Scope

India Commercial Drone Market: COVID-19 Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the India Commercial Drone Market, with the industry experiencing both positive and negative effects. Here are some of the key impacts:

• Disruption in Supply Chains: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in global supply chains, affecting the availability of components and parts essential for drone manufacturing. This led to delays in production and delivery, impacting the market growth in the short term.

• Operational Constraints: Lockdowns and restrictions on movement hampered the operations of many industries, including those relying on drone services. Sectors like construction, agriculture, and logistics faced operational challenges, resulting in a temporary decline in demand for commercial drones.

• Increased Demand for Contactless Solutions: The pandemic accelerated the demand for contactless delivery and remote monitoring solutions. Drones emerged as a key tool for maintaining social distancing while ensuring efficient operations in sectors like e-commerce, healthcare delivery, and public safety.

• Government Initiatives and Policy Support: The Indian government introduced supportive policies and expedited regulatory approvals for drone operations during the pandemic. Initiatives like the Drone Rules 2021 provided a more structured and conducive environment for the commercial drone market to recover and grow.

• Enhanced Role in Healthcare: Drones played a crucial role in healthcare logistics during the pandemic, including the delivery of medical supplies, vaccines, and test samples to remote and hard-to-reach areas. This demonstrated the versatility and necessity of drones in critical situations, boosting their adoption.

• Adaptation and Innovation: Drone companies adapted by innovating their offerings to meet new market needs. For instance, they developed drones equipped with disinfectant spraying capabilities and thermal imaging for monitoring public health, which found immediate applications during the pandemic.

• Resilience of Key Sectors: Sectors like agriculture and infrastructure, which are vital to the Indian economy, resumed activities with an increased reliance on drones for efficiency and cost savings. The adoption of drones in precision agriculture and infrastructure monitoring saw a resurgence as restrictions eased.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on the India Commercial Drone Market, with some challenges and opportunities arising from the pandemic.

List of the prominent players in the India Commercial Drone Market:

• Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS)
• IdeaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd.
• Quidich Innovation Labs Pvt. Ltd.
• Skylark Drones Pvt. Ltd.
• DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
• Thanos Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
• Indrones Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Terra Drone India Pvt. Ltd.
• Asteria Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.
• Paras Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.
• IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt. Ltd.
• Garuda Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.
• Aarav Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd.
• Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL)
• Aerodyne India
• Others

The India Commercial Drone Market is segmented as follows:

By Application

• Filming and Photography
• Inspection and Maintenance
• Mapping and Surveying
• Precision Agriculture
• Surveillance and Monitoring
• Others

By Mode of Operation

• Remotely Operated
• Semi-Autonomous
• Autonomous

By Product Type

• Fixed Wing
• Rotary Blade
• Hybrid

By Weight

• <2 Kg
• 2 Kg-25 Kg
• 25 Kg-150 Kg

By End User

• Agriculture
• Delivery and Logistics
• Energy
• Media and Entertainment
• Real Estate and Construction
• Security and Law Enforcement
• Others