The India drones market was valued at USD 797.83 Million in 2025. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.30% during the forecast period of 2026-2035. One of the primary driving factors of the market growth economy is the 'Drone Didi' programme, which enables rural women to use drones in agriculture. Introduced in November 2023, the programme is aimed at providing 15,000 women's self-help groups with drones, increasing their capabilities and encouraging sustainable agriculture. In addition to bringing cutting-edge technology to agriculture, the programme ensures gender mainstreaming and rural economic development and contributes to widespread use of drone technology in the nation. This, in turn, is expected to push the market ahead to attain USD 3934.51 Million by 2035.
Another significant trend in the market is the surge in demand for indigenous defence drones following Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. As per India drones market report the operation underscored the strategic value of drones, prompting the stock prices of local drone makers such as IdeaForge and Zen Technologies to jump by as much as 50%. This event highlighted the indispensable nature of drones in contemporary warfare. This in turn propelled the Indian army to place high priority on the procurement of domestically manufactured drones, hence accelerating the development of the local drone market.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as of January 2025, over 29,500 drones have been registered in India, with New Delhi boasting 4,882 registrations. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra followed with a registered number of 4,588 and 4,132 respectively. Such data denotes the rising demand for drones for various kinds of purposes, ranging from military surveillance to commercial photography usage. Increasing adoption of drones for agriculture, defence, logistics, and infrastructure is also expected to spur the India drones market expansion. Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), are rendering drone operations more intelligent and more efficient. For example, in January 2025, the Indian Army began deploying AI-powered drones and satellite systems for enhanced surveillance, logistics, and cybersecurity. These technologies provide real-time intelligence, aiding strategic decision-making and improving operational efficiency in various defence operations.
Base Year
Historical Period
Forecast Period
In 2024, at the IDAX-24 Expo, India displayed state-of-the-art domestic drone defense technologies, such as anti-drone RF guns, loitering munitions, and augmented reality training systems. These highlight India's push toward global defence and self-reliance.
Another pioneering effort by the government is the Drone Didi mission, aiming to empower women using drones. This program was initiated by the Government of India and trains women, particularly rural women, to fly drones, building new careers and entrepreneurship opportunities, thereby bolstering the growth of the India drones market.
The Government of India has launched initiatives like the INR 57 crore Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme which aims at enhancing and supporting local innovation and manufacturing. Drones manufacturers in India can take help of these schemes to innovate and develop advanced drones, thus boosting the market growth.
Compound Annual Growth Rate
17.3%
Value in USD Million
2026-2035
*this image is indicative*
|
India Drones Market Report Summary |
Description |
Value |
|
Base Year |
USD Million |
2025 |
|
Historical Period |
USD Million |
2019-2025 |
|
Forecast Period |
USD Million |
2026-2035 |
|
Market Size 2025 |
USD Million |
797.83 |
|
Market Size 2035 |
USD Million |
3934.51 |
|
CAGR 2019-2025 |
Percentage |
XX% |
|
CAGR 2026-2035 |
Percentage |
17.30% |
|
CAGR 2026-2035 - Market by Region |
South India |
19.7% |
|
CAGR 2026-2035 - Market by Region |
East India |
18.5% |
|
CAGR 2026-2035 - Market by Component |
Services |
17.8% |
|
CAGR 2026-2035 - Market by Product |
Multi-Rotor |
18.2% |
|
2025 Market Share by Region |
North India |
27.2% |
Drones are being used for the proper deployment of the Smart Cities Mission through enhanced urban planning, surveillance, and security. Their ability to monitor city infrastructure makes maintenance and security interventions proactive and data led. By providing improved surveillance, drones assist authorities in traffic management, urban development, and emergency response, making cities sustainable and resilient, thereby bolstering the India drones market growth.
In India, drones in agriculture are playing a vital role in government programmes such as PM-Kisan and SVAMITVA, where farmers can use them to control resources better. By land mapping and crop observation, drones support precision farming, resulting in more accurate predictions of yield and minimised wastage of resources. Drones also aid in landowner mapping under the SVAMITVA scheme by providing digital copies and reducing disputes.
Drone technology has now become a building block of innovation in India, especially through the incorporation of numerous newly initiated government initiatives. They are efficient, precise, and can gather up-to-date information, which will help in advancing progress in fields like agriculture, infrastructure, disaster management, and urban planning. In March 2025, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Digital Sky Platform, integrating AI-driven drone traffic management. This initiative enhances drone safety, enables seamless operations across sectors like agriculture and infrastructure, and accelerates the nation’s push towards a self-reliant drone ecosystem. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are facilitating India's vision for a technologically driven, self-dependent nation, by revolutionizing the manner in which important government initiatives are rolled out, thus boosting the drones demand in India.
Companies like HC Robotics and IdeaForge are spearheading India's indigenous drone development. HC Robotics is unique in producing all components of the drone in-house, ensuring the "Made in India" status remains intact. Another company, IdeaForge, is pushing the UAV industry with cutting-edge, dependable solutions, enhancing India's global ranking in drone technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) paired with machine learning (ML) is playing a significant role in shaping the India drones market dynamics and trends. AI facilitates autonomous navigation, real-time avoidance of obstacles, and routing optimization, leading to maximum efficiency of operations. In April 2025, Indian startup ideaForge deployed AI-enabled drones for autonomous crop monitoring and infrastructure inspection. Their drones use machine learning to analyse aerial data, improving disease detection and predictive maintenance, boosting efficiency in agriculture and defence sectors across India. ML algorithms enable drones to process large volumes of aerial images, enhancing data analysis in crop disease surveillance, inspection of infrastructure, and threat detection. AI-based predictive maintenance also help to reduce downtime and improve the reliability of drone fleets. In addition, AI-powered threat detection and response functions are improving the efficiency of drones used in defence and surveillance operations.
The EMR’s report titled “India Drones Market Report and Forecast 2026-2035” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Component
Key Insight: The hardware sector leads the market owing to increasing demand for drone bodies, sensors, and navigation systems by defence and agriculture. As the government encourages domestic manufacturing of drones under the PLI scheme, hardware innovation and manufacturing are increasing at a fast pace. Startups such as ideaForge and Aarav Unmanned Systems are improving payload capacity and flight time, making India competitive in the international drone supply chain.
Market Breakup by Product
Key Insight: Multi-rotor drones dominate the product category owing to their ease of use, low prices, and versatility, propelling the India drones demand forecast. Mostly popular in aerial photography, surveillance, and agriculture spraying, multi-rotor drones provide vertical take-off and stable flight, also applicable in rural and urban areas. Their dominance is further complemented by growing demand from SMEs and startups for their use in logistics and infrastructure observation.
Market Breakup by Technology
Key Insight: Remotely operated drones represent the dominant market share, driven by regulatory ease and familiarity of users. They are widely utilized in defence, agriculture, and surveying where real-time control is essential. Although semi-autonomous and autonomous drones are picking up pace, particularly with AI deployment, their usage is presently limited because of safety regulations and infrastructural limitations. Yet, future regulatory changes can change the dynamics to favour autonomy.
Market Breakup by Payload
Key Insight: Drones of 2 kg payload or less are leading the India drone industry, primarily targeting consumer and commercial applications for photography, monitoring, and small parcel delivery. Lighter drones guarantee compliance with simpler licensing standards under India's drone regulations, 2021. They are inexpensive and hence, these are best suited for startups and individuals, although heavier payload drones are being pursued for agricultural and defence logistics usage.
Market Breakup by Power Source
Key Insight: Battery-powered drones are utilized the most since they are cost-effective, require less maintenance, and are well-suited for short- to medium-range missions. Increasing availability of lithium battery production and import substitution have encouraged the further growth in the drones market share in India. Although hydrogen fuel and solar drones demonstrate long-range defence or environmental monitoring capabilities, high expense and technical limitations restrict extensive utilisation.
Market Breakup by End Use
Key Insight: Military is the largest end-use category, driven by increasing geopolitical tensions and government investment in UAVs for surveillance and reconnaissance along borders. India's DRDO and private industry such as NewSpace Research are pioneering development in tactical drones, thus bolstering the overall drone adoption in India. The government is also incorporating drones in police and disaster response missions. Commercial use is expanding rapidly in agriculture, mapping, and logistics, however, the defence category continues to hold the premium value.
Market Breakup by Region
Key Insight: North India dominates regional demand due to its extensive defence complexes, border watch requirements, and large agricultural regions. Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are using drones with greater frequency for precision agriculture. The region's proximity to conflict-prone borders such as Jammu & Kashmir also heightens the military demand for drones, solidifying North India's grip on the domestic drone market.
|
CAGR 2026-2035 - Market by |
Region |
|
South India |
19.7% |
|
East India |
18.5% |
|
West India |
XX% |
|
North India |
XX% |
Core drone components, PLI incentives, and defence demand make the hardware segment dominant.
Hardware is dominating the market by component since it is the core of drone manufacturing, comprising airframes, rotors, and sensors. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in India has greatly increased local production of hardware. The rise in demand for military as well as commercial uses has motivated manufacturers to concentrate on robust, effective hardware solutions, making it the biggest revenue-generating component, thus propelling the India drones demand growth.
The services component is growing at a fast pace with increasing demand for drone-based solutions such as aerial surveying, monitoring, and data analytics. Organisations and government agencies are delegating the operation of drones to specialist companies, propelling the adoption of the Drone-as-a-Service model. Higher affordability and accessibility are promoting overall adoption of service-based solutions.
Multi Rotors dominate the industry as these are affordable, versatile, and widely used in commercial and surveillance applications.
Multi-rotors, expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.2% over the forecast period, capture a significant share of the market owing to their affordability, agility, and use for aerial photography, monitoring, and inspection. Vertical takeoff and landing allow them to fit into urban and limited operations. Small enterprises, agriculture, and law enforcement organisations in India increasingly embrace multi-rotors, assuring them of a continuous dominance within the consumer as well as commercial markets.
Hybrid drones represent the highest growth, powered by the stamina of fixed-wing drones with the agility of multi-rotors, stimulating the India drones market revenue growth. These are finding more usage in industrial surveys, logistics, and farm monitoring where high endurance and high-capacity payload are a must. Their technological flexibility is drawing heavy investments from Indian drone startups and government institutions for long-range, high-utility applications.
Cost-effective, user-controlled remotely operated drones dominate in regulated and precision-required Indian sectors.
Remotely operated drones dominate the market owing to favourability and operator control. They are widely used in defence, construction, and agriculture for visual surveillance and data gathering. Cost-effectiveness and quick deployment make them the go-to option for most users, making them unstoppable even with the emergence of semi and fully autonomous options, thereby contributing to the India drones market value.
Fully autonomous drones are quickly picking up traction in India, particularly for use cases such as smart surveillance, crop spraying, and delivery. AI integration facilitates immediate decision-making and minimal human intervention. R&D supported by the government and drone corridors for BVLOS flight are strengthening their adoption rates. As autonomy enhances the scalability of operations, this category is expected to witness exponential growth in the coming years.
Lightweight drones upto 2 kg dominate the Indian industry due to regulatory ease, affordability, and mass-market appeal.
2-kg payload drones dominate the market because of their adherence to lighter category norms and affordability. The drones suit hobbyists, startups, and small surveyors. Their versatility in photography, mapping, and small-range delivery makes them the preferred option in all educational, consumer, and commercial categories, particularly in India's fast-growing startup ecosystem.
Drones with a weight of 20 kg to 200 kg are quickly becoming popular in heavy-duty uses such as agricultural spraying, logistics, and military use, hence bolstering the India drones market development. Due to their capacity to transport high payloads over longer distances, these have become suitable for BVLOS operations. With rising interest from defence and industrial players, this category is witnessing strong investments and accelerated regulatory clearances.
Battery-powered drones are widely adopted due to simplicity, affordability, and supporting the lithium battery ecosystem.
Battery-operated drones are dominating the market due to their ease of use, minimal maintenance requirements, and extensive availability, propelling the India drones industry revenue. These have become the go-to option for short-distance operations in agriculture, surveillance, and infrastructure. In June 2024, the Indian government approved the Agribot drone for agricultural use. Manufactured by IoTechWorld, this battery-operated drone is designed for pesticide spraying, seed broadcasting, and crop health analysis. Growth in India’s battery manufacturing ecosystem and falling lithium-ion costs further support these drones’ widespread adoption across consumer, commercial, and educational domains.
Hydrogen fuel cell-based drones are the fastest-growing market category with extended range, increased energy density, and an environmentally friendly image. While these represent a niche category, government pilot schemes and increasing interest from the defence industry are driving adoption. Their potential to enable missions of long duration without needing recharge makes them a game-changing solution for long-haul, high-endurance drone applications.
Military leads drone demand with tactical, surveillance needs and strong government support.
The defence sector is the top end-user in India's drone market, propelled by rising defence budgets and pressure for locally developed surveillance and tactical drone systems. Border surveillance, intelligence, and strike functions are prominent use cases. In May 2025, during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army successfully neutralised waves of Pakistani Bayraktar TB2 drones using indigenous Akashteer air defence systems. This operation demonstrated India's growing self-reliance in drone warfare and highlighted the effectiveness of domestically developed counter-drone technologies. 'Make in India'-led government initiatives and DRDO-sponsored innovations further consolidate the military's strong position in drone adoption.
Commercial applications are experiencing rapid growth in the India drones market as sectors adopt drones for agriculture, mining, surveying, and logistics. Emerging drone regulations, growing startup involvement, and surging demand for aerial insights and automation are fuelling demand. Firms now leverage drones to monitor crop health, inspect warehouses, and execute last-mile deliveries, showcasing their multi-use nature in India's commercial domains.
By Region, North India secures the leading position in the market due to the growing need for operational efficiency.
Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in 26 civilian fatalities, the Indian Army intensified surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. To enhance operational efficiency, the Army deployed Israeli-manufactured Heron drones for real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. These drones are equipped with advanced imaging systems capable of identifying suspicious movements and potential threats in challenging terrains. Additionally, the Army has integrated smaller quadcopter drones to assist in locating and neutralising terrorist hideouts. This strategic deployment underscores India's commitment to leveraging advanced drone technology for national security and counter-terrorism efforts.
As per the India drones market report, southern states like Andhra have been using drones for flood relief operations, augmenting the disaster management ecosystem trends. This regional market exhibits a CAGR of 19.7% over the forecast period. In 2024, drones that were able to carry a 40 kg payload were deployed in the Vijayawada city for the efficient delivery of essential supplies in areas that were then inaccessible by conventional means. The Drones Corporation of Andhra Pradesh along with the state ministry was the first in the country to adopt such an initiative. This helped in setting up a great example for using drones for various relief operations in the country in future. Thus, drones have emerged as a crucial asset in India's disaster relief activities, providing swift access to flood-isolated regions. Their capacity to drop crucial supplies has been essential in recent flood relief activities.
Key India drones market players are aimed at driving advancements across domains like security, logistics, agriculture and defence. Companies are making use of tactical UAVs for surveillance for military use. Others are focussing on drones for infrastructure monitoring and precision agriculture. Urban mobility and drone logistics present new opportunities for companies, prioritising autonomy and payload efficiency. Moreover, companies are investing in local counter-drone technologies in keeping with India's overall aim to become self-reliant and globally competitive in UAV systems. A niche technology that the India drones companies are aiming at is 5G-enabled drone communication systems. This advancement allows for ultra-low latency, real-time data transmission, and high-definition video streaming, which is critical for surveillance, disaster response, and remote inspections. Companies like Zen Technologies and Asteria Aerospace are exploring collaborations with telecom providers to pilot 5G drone corridors. This technology enhances autonomous operations and BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) capabilities, positioning India’s drone sector for next-generation smart applications.
Founded in 2007 and based in Mumbai, ideaForge offers sophisticated UAVs such as NETRA, Q6, and SWITCH for surveillance, mapping, and defence. Their drones are extensively utilized by Indian defence forces, police, and industrial users for dependable aerial intelligence.
Established in 2017 and headquartered in Bengaluru, NewSpace is working on autonomous UAVs, swarm drones, and loyal wingman platforms for the military. It is working in collaboration with the Indian defence organisations to create next-generation combat and intelligence drone systems for strategic operations.
Established in 2015 and based in Chennai, Garuda Aerospace produces drones for disaster management, defence, agriculture, and logistics. It offers products such as Kisan Drones and surveillance UAVs, targeting both commercial markets and government projects on the basis of affordability and usability.
IoTechWorld, a company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Gurugram, specialises in manufacturing agricultural drones for spraying, seeding, and crop monitoring. Its flagship offering, Agribot, is geared towards precision farming, allowing farmers to maximise yields and lower input costs with efficient drone-based agricultural solutions.
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Other key players considered in the India drones market report are Asteria Aerospace Limited, Paras Aerospace Private Limited, Adani Defence and Aerospace, Dronix Technologies Private Limited, Johnnette Technologies Pvt Ltd, and Thanos Technologies Private Limited., among others.
Download your free sample report on the India drones market forecast 2026–2035 to explore emerging trends, competitive analysis, and growth opportunities. Stay ahead with expert insights into the evolving India drone landscape and capitalize on market dynamics shaping 2026 and beyond.
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*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
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In 2025, the India drones market reached an approximate value of USD 797.83 Million.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.30% between 2026 and 2035.
The market is estimated to witness healthy growth in the forecast period of 2026-2035 to reach a value of around USD 3934.51 Million by 2035.
Companies in India’s drone market focus on local manufacturing, government partnerships, R&D in AI-driven navigation, and expanding applications in agriculture, surveillance, and logistics to meet rising domestic demand and policy incentives.
Some of the key trends involve using drones for security and surveillance across the national borders, real-time tracking of logistics across water bodies and surveillance of crops across a large agricultural land.
The major regions in the market are North India, South India, East India and West India.
The various components considered in the market report are hardware, software and services.
The various products mentioned in the report are fixed-wing, multi-rotor, single-rotor, and hybrid.
The various technologies considered in the market report are remotely operated, fully-autonomous and semi-autonomous.
The major players in the market are ideaForge Technology Ltd., NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Garuda Aerospace Private Limited, IoTechWorld Avigation Pvt Ltd, Asteria Aerospace Limited, Paras Aerospace Private Limited, Adani Defence and Aerospace, Dronix Technologies Private Limited, Johnnette Technologies Pvt Ltd, and Thanos Technologies Private Limited., among others.
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Historical Period | 2019-2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2035 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Component |
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| Breakup by Product |
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| Breakup by Technology |
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| Breakup by Payload |
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| Breakup by Power Source |
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| Breakup by End Use |
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| Breakup by Region |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Competitive Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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