How to register Drone in India ?

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for civil use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) commonly known as drones. As per the regulation, there are 5 categories of RPAS categorized by weight, namely nano, micro, small, medium and large.

Registration for flying Drone

Registration for flying Drone in India involves the following steps.

1. One-time registration of drones, pilots and owners.

2. Obtain UIN

3. Obtain UAOP License

4. Remote Pilot Training

Details of each of this step is mentioned below.

Registration of Drones, Pilots and Owners

Users will be required to do a one-time registration of their drones, pilots and owners. For every flight (exempted for the nano category), users will be required to ask for permission to fly on a mobile app and an automated process permits or denies the request instantly. To prevent unauthorized flights and to ensure public safety, any drone without a digital permit to fly will simply not be able to takeoff. The unmanned traffic management (UTM) platform operates as a traffic regulator in the drone airspace and coordinates closely with the defense and civilian air traffic controllers (ATCs) to ensure that drones remain on the approved flight paths. The Digital Sky Platform is the first-of-its-kind national unmanned traffic management (UTM) platform that implements “no permission, no takeoff” (NPNT). 

As an operator, manufacturer or remote pilot, you need to first register yourself. Registered users can add their NPNT compliant RPAs, and apply to fly.

Follow the below steps to register drone in India.

• Visit Digital Sky website.

• Click on "Get Started".

• Enter your Name or Company name and fill the required details to sign up.

• After registering with Digital Sky, the user will receive notification through the registered mail. By clicking the link in the mail, the user will be directed to select the that is relevant to him/her.

• For registration for Pilots, following steps needs to be completed.

  • Pilots to upload certifications, other documents through the digital sky for issuance of Unmanned Aerial Pilot Licence (UAPL)

  • e-KYC to be completed before issuance of licence

• For registration for Owners, following steps needs to be completed.

  • Operators will have to register their Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) through the digital sky system

  • Complete an an e-KYC process

• For registration for Drones, following steps needs to be completed.

  • Manufacturers will have to submit drone versions or models for certification to DGCA

  • The drone’s onboard software to be compliant with the proposed SDK specifications

  • Approved and certified drone models to be added to the digital sky database

  • Unique Identification Number (UIN) of drones to be registered with DGCA 

Get UIN for Drones

UIN is unique identification number issued by DGCA for a particular Drone.

Nano Drones and RPA owned by NTRO, ARC and Central Intelligence Agencies are not required to obtain UIN. Except foreign entity all others are eligible for applying for UIN.

For imported RPAS, ETA from WPC, Import clearance from DGCA and import license from DGFT are required before applying for UIN. For locally purchased RPAS, ETA from WPC and NPNT compliance certificate from OEM is required before applying for UIN.

Following documents are required while applying for UIN.

• Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from WPC (Wireless Planning and Co-ordination) Wing

• OEM Certificate

• Security documents from MHA or copies of any 2 IDs (Passport, Driving License, Aadhar)

• Specification of UAS & applicable Manuals.

• Any other supporting documents deemed necessary.

The process of registering the drones is followed after registering the user at the Digital Sky platform. User has to fill the following details.

• Name, address and PAN details of the owner

• Drone Type

• Model Number

• Serial Number

• OEM Certificate (certificate received from manufacturer)

• NPL Letter

• Name, address and nationality of the Manufacturer

• Maximum take-off weight and height attainable and

• Details of compatible payload

After filling the valid credentials, the user shall make the payment of INR 1000 to apply for Unique Identification Number (UIN) to operate the drones . UIN can also be applied through Bharatkosh Website.

After you have been issued with UIN for a particular drone; engrave it on a fire resistant plate and firmly affix on your drone. Ensure the number remains affixed to the aircraft during routine handling and all operating conditions and is readily accessible and legible upon close visual inspection.

Get UAOP License

UAOP is Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit. All operators other than exempted categories mentioned below are required to obtain UAOP from DGCA.

• Operators of Nano &Micro category in uncontrolled airspace/ enclosed premises upto 50ft and 200ft respectively.

• RPA operated by NTRO, ARC, and Central Intelligence Agencies. 

UAOP has a validity of 5 years.

After obtaining UIN , the eligible applicant should apply for UAOP through Digital Sky platform along with following supporting documents and requisite fees (at least 7 working days prior to actual commencement of operations).

• Standard Operating Procedure

• Permission of the land/property owner (only for area used for take-off and landing of RPA);

• Details of remote pilot(s) along with security clearance from MHA or selfattested copies of at least two out of three valid identity proofs viz. Passport, Driving License/ Pilot License or Aadhar Card and copies of training records.;

• Insurance details (as applicable);

• Security programme as approved by BCAS.

• Fees for UAOP of Rs 25,000/- to be deposited in Bharatkosh link  and applicant should upload the generated receipt along with application.

Remote Pilot Training

A remote pilot is a person charged by the operator with duties essential to the operation of a remotely piloted aircraft and who manipulates the flight controls, as appropriate, during flight time.  Remote Pilot training is not applicable for Nano and Micro category RPA pilots intending to operate in uncontrolled airspace. However, the owner and user should be fully aware of responsibilities for all aspects of flight safety during such operations

Eligibility Criteria

• Remote pilot should have attained 18 years of age.

• Remote pilot should have passed at least 10th exam in English.

• A remote pilot should either obtain security clearance from MHA or submit selfattested copies of at least two out of three valid identity proofs viz. Passport, Driving License or Aadhar Card.

The remote pilot should have undergone ground/ practical training at any DGCA approved Flying Training Organization (FTO).

Follow the below steps to undergo Remote Pilot Training.

• Approach DGCA approved FTOs (List available in DGCA website)

• Ensure FTOs are providing the training as per curriculum with at least minimum ground and practical training specified in the CAR

• Undergo Training and obtain copy of training records

• Update & Maintain Remote Pilot log book

• Signup and upload necessary documents in Digital Sky Platform

• Follow SOP while operating RPAS

Permissions Required

No.

Stakeholder

Responsibility

Operational Requirements

• All RPAS except nano and those owned by NTRO, ARC and Central Intelligence Agencies are to be registered and issued with Unique Identification Number (UIN).

• Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) shall be required for RPA operators except for nano RPAS operating below 50 ft., micro RPAS operating below 200 ft., and those owned by NTRO, ARC and Central Intelligence Agencies.

• The mandatory equipment required for operation of RPAS except nano category are (a) GNSS (GPS), (b) Return-To-Home (RTH), (c) Anti-collision light, (d) ID-Plate, (e)  Flight controller with flight data logging capability, and (f) RF ID and SIM/ No-Permission No Take off (NPNT).

• As of now, RPAS to operate within visual line of sight (VLoS), during day time only, and upto maximum400 ft. altitude.

• For flying in controlled Airspace, filing of flight plan and obtaining Air Defence Clearance (ADC) /Flight Information Centre (FIC) number shall be necessary.

• Minimum manufacturing standards and training requirements of Remote Pilots of small and above categories of RPAS have been specified in the regulation.

Enforcement Actions

If the applicant violates any of the rules, the enforcement actions are as follows.

• Suspension/ cancellation of UIN/ UAOP in case of violation of regulatory provisions,

• Actions as per relevant Sections of the Aircraft Act 1934, or Aircraft Rules, or any statutory provisions, and

• Penalties as per applicable IPCs (such as 287, 336, 337, 338, or any relevant section of IPC).