India Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market Assessment, By Wing Type, By Class, By Application, By Mode of Operation, By Maximum Take Off Weight, By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2018-FY2032F

India unmanned aerial vehicle market is expected to observe a CAGR of 13.04% during the forecast period FY2025- FY2032F, rising from USD 1.12 billion in FY2024 to USD 2.98 billion in FY2032. India is a thriving and quickly expanding market with innovative technology that can fully accredit the variety of uses of unmanned aerial vehicle technology in various industries. Numerous solutions are available in market, providing UAVs for surveillance, monitoring, mapping, and delivery services with a focus on commercial, and defense applications and infrastructure management for transportation system maintenance in the agricultural sector.

Government policies such as National Drone Policy is positively affecting the market, pushing investments from public and private players with a response to the government's push under its flagship initiative of Make in India. Leading players in the industry are using advanced technology for manufacturing unique unmanned aerial vehicles to especially meet the needs of Indian businesses.

India unmanned aerial vehicle market is expected to grow due to growing security concerns and terrorist threats, and a sharp rise in domestic crime rates throughout the country. In 2023, the crime rate in India stood at 422 per 100,000 individuals. This aspect is encouraging the Indian government to choose tools and technologies to lower the nation's crime rate. The demand for UAVs will be directly accelerated by the numerous government efforts and programs, such as by the Make in India program, which promotes the manufacturing of goods in India.

Increasing Commercial Applications to Influence Market Growth

The Indian government aims to use UAVs across a range of industries to boost production, efficiency, and creativity to establish itself as a global powerhouse for drone technology during the forecast period. UAVs are used in agriculture to monitor crops, do precision farming, and spray crops, which lower costs and maximize yields. UAVs are used in construction for cost-saving and better project management purposes, such as quality monitoring and site surveillance. UAVs are used by the military for combat operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance. UAVs are used in disaster relief efforts for search and rescue tasks. UAVs are used in filmmaking to capture unique viewpoints during aerial cinematography. UAVs are used in healthcare to improve patient outcomes by managing the supply chain and delivering medical supplies. UAVs are used in logistics to reduce delivery times and costs for supply chain management, package delivery, and cargo transport.

Improving Government Regulations and Policies

The key elements driving the expansion of the UAV market in India are government regulations and policies that support the industry. Following the Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy, where government authorized the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, granting USD 0.14 billion (INR 120 crore) over three financial years exclusively for UAV and drone components, based on the PIB 2023 data. A notable exemption designed specifically for the drone sector for this policy sets a constant PLI rate of 20% for the term. The declaration of 23 PLI beneficiaries, including 12 drone makers and 11 drone component producers, as a provisional list highlights the government's commitment.

West and Central India to Dominate the Market Share

Western India's emerging ecosystem of digital hubs, research institutes, and creative startups across states is expected to make it the fastest-growing region in India for the UAV market during the forecast years. The region has drawn investments and fueled the development of a wide range of drone applications across industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, and surveillance due to its favorable business environment, encouraging government regulations, and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. West India thus stands out as a major factor propelling the growth of the unmanned aerial vehicle market in India.

For instance, India's central government aims to become a global drone hub by 2030. Regulations for UAV usage and manufacturing have been liberalized, and the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) has been eased to encourage investments. The number of companies and startups working on drone technologies has increased, with investment in drone startups reaching nearly USD 50 million in 2023. This has led to a growth in research and development of drone technologies in India.

Fixed Wings to Dominate Market Share

Due to its unique benefits such as durability, range, and efficiency, the fixed wing drone segment is anticipated to hold a considerable part of market. Fixed-wing drones are especially useful for applications such as infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, and defense due to their superior ability to cover wider geographic areas and carry out longer observation missions. Their adaptability and ability to cover vast distances in a single flight, along with technological advancements that enhance their agility and ensure their domination across numerous industries, lead to segmental growth. The fixed-wing drone segment contributes to the overall market growth as more industries realize the value of long-range capabilities and prolonged flying times.

In December 2023, The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India has successfully conducted a flight trial of an autonomous flying wing technology demonstrator. This high-speed, native UAV demonstrates cutting-edge autonomous flying capabilities. An important turning point in India's UAV development has been reached with the test's success, which highlights the country's defense technology breakthroughs and their potential going forward. DRDO's innovative research and development will strengthen the nation's defense capabilities, as this accomplishment illustrates.

Future Market Scenario (FY2025 - FY2032F)

The Indian government aims to become a global hub for UAV technology by 2030. For achieving the target, the government has taken a number of modest steps, such as liberalizing regulations around the use of drone technology, attracting USD 6.7 billion (INR 50 billion) in investment over the course of three years, creating over 10,000 employments and encouraging MSME investments through the PLI scheme.

Between August 2021 and February 2022, the number of drone startups in India increased by 34.4%, to a total of 221 startups. Technological advancements and a rise in corporate investment in the UAV industry are the main drivers of this growth. The Indian drone ecosystem has been redesigned under the Drone Rules, 2021. Previously, outdated laws and guidelines impeded the expansion of the drone sector in India. But the PLI Scheme, the Digital Sky platform, Drone Shakti, and liberalized drone regulations have made it simpler to do business in the sector, which has boosted confidence and growth and, eventually, allowed it to catch up with other industrialized countries.

It is expected that in the projected years, the demand for UAV will rise across a variety of industries, including agriculture, defense, retail, and e-commerce in India. This will facilitate a healthy manufacturing industry and increase corporate and startup investment. All of these will contribute to India being a one-stop shop for many foreign investors involved in the UAV market.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

India unmanned aerial vehicle market features key players, driving the innovation in military and commercial drone sectors. The market is anticipated to develop significantly due to the growing applications in disaster management, agriculture, surveillance, and logistics. The sector is expanding due to government measures including the relaxation of drone laws and funding for homegrown technologies. The market's outlook is expected to be improved by strategic partnerships with international UAV makers and technological developments such as AI and IoT integration, which would establish India as a major participant in the global UAV market.

For instance, in 2024, the Adani Defence & Aerospace's first medium-altitude, long-endurance drone in India is called Drishti 10 Starliner. With a 450 kg payload capacity, 36-hour endurance, and STANAG 4671 certification, the platform has robust intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) instrument operating in different airspace scenarios and weather conditions.

Presently, India relies on nations such as Israel for tactical UAVs for military use, as a result, the nation is investing in the creation of its own military UAV projects. Indian-based R&D companies, such Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), are creating UAVs with ISR, targeting, and weapon guidance capabilities, such as Rustom and Netra, to meet the demands of the country's armed services.