As India accelerates its digital transformation under the Digital India initiative, emerging technologies continue to play a central role in redefining governance and public service delivery. A step in this direction was taken when the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in partnership with IIT Ropar, organized a national training programme on “Drone Technology and Its Applications.” Held from November 17–19, 2025, the three-day capacity-building initiative aimed to empower government officials with practical skills and insights into the rapidly evolving drone ecosystem.
A Hands-On Learning Experience
Unlike conventional workshops, this programme focused strongly on experiential learning. Participants from over 25 ministries and state departments engaged directly with drone hardware, software, and field operations. The immersive approach helped them understand drones not just as technological tools but as practical solutions to real-world administrative challenges.
The training delved into a broad spectrum of drone-related topics, including:
- India’s regulatory framework governing unmanned aerial vehicles
- The Digital Sky platform, which streamlines drone permissions and compliance
- Surveying and mapping techniques using drones
- Agricultural applications, such as crop monitoring and precision spraying
- Mining and resource management
- Disaster response, including rapid assessment during floods, landslides, and emergencies
- Drone forensics to support law enforcement
- Anti-drone technologies for security and surveillance
This extensive curriculum ensured that participants not only learned the technical fundamentals but also explored the governance potential of drones across sectors.
Practical Field Demonstrations
A highlight of the programme was the field-based training. Through live demonstrations on drone flying, surveying operations, and agricultural use cases, participants witnessed how drones can dramatically improve efficiency, accuracy, and coverage in government projects. These sessions illustrated how aerial data collected by drones can support evidence-based decision-making—be it in planning rural roads, assessing crop damage, or monitoring environmental changes.
Participants noted that the practical approach demystified drone operations, showing clearly how the technology can deliver scalable and cost-effective solutions aligned with citizen-centric governance.
Connecting with India’s Drone Innovation Ecosystem
Beyond hands-on learning, the programme also connected participants with the vibrant startup ecosystem at IIT Ropar’s Technology Business Incubation Foundation. Here, participants interacted with drone entrepreneurs developing cutting-edge solutions for agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, security, and logistics. These interactions highlighted India’s growing leadership in drone innovation, supported by policy reforms, research efforts, and industry–academia collaboration.
Strengthening Governance Through Technology
The training programme is a testament to NeGD’s commitment to building digital capacity within government systems. By equipping officials with knowledge of emerging tools like drones, NeGD is helping bridge the gap between research and real-world governance needs. The initiative reinforces the goal of enabling efficient, transparent, and technology-driven public service delivery.
As drones continue to reshape sectors across the globe, initiatives like these ensure that India’s governance framework remains future-ready and innovative—ultimately contributing to a more responsive and empowered digital society.