300 Centres of Excellence launched nationwide
DGCA-approved skilling programme to create certified trainers
NAKSHA Phase 2 (Batch 2) begins June 16, training 128 officers
Boost for agri-tech, geospatial mapping, and rural-urban employment
In a landmark moment for India’s technological advancement, Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Kamlesh Paswan, today inaugurated Garuda Aerospace’s cutting-edge Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai. This state-of-the-art hub, spanning 35,000 sq. ft., is India’s first dedicated facility for designing, manufacturing, and testing advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), poised to produce over 1 lakh drones within the next two years.
The inauguration marks a significant leap in India’s journey towards self-reliance in drone technology and underscores the nation’s ambition to become a global drone hub. Minister Paswan lauded Garuda Aerospace and its CEO, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, for their pivotal role in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global leader in drone manufacturing. “The dedication of young entrepreneurs like Agnishwar is turning this vision into reality,” he stated, noting the impressive sight of 2,000 agri-drones at the facility as a testament to India’s growing prowess in drone innovation.
Nationwide Centres of Excellence Launched
Alongside the facility’s opening, Minister Paswan also launched 300 Centres of Excellence (CoE) and flagged off the DGCA-approved ‘Train the Trainer’ (TTT) Drone Skilling Programme. The TTT program is set to create a highly skilled workforce by certifying drone instructors, further boosting the drone ecosystem. The 300 CoEs, established in collaboration with academic and industry partners, will serve as crucial hubs for driving research, innovation, and skill development across India.
In 2022, PM Modi set a target of manufacturing 1 lakh Made-in-India drones by 2026. Further bolstering India’s drone manufacturing capabilities, Garuda Aerospace recently announced it has raised an additional $1 million in its ongoing Series B funding round. This fresh capital infusion, from the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office and existing investor We Founder Circle, adds to the $12 million previously secured. The funds are earmarked to significantly boost Garuda Aerospace’s manufacturing capacity, aiming to ramp up annual drone production from 8,000 units to a long-term goal of 50,000 units. The company, which is also preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), intends to strengthen its R&D operations with a focus on indigenizing airborne and ground defense drone systems and expanding exports to 50 countries by 2025.
Strengthening Geospatial Capabilities with NAKSHA Initiative
In a parallel development reinforcing India’s technological might, the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, is launching the second batch of Phase 2 of its capacity-building programme under the NAKSHA (NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations) initiative today. This crucial program will train 128 Urban Local Body (ULB) and district-level officers from 74 ULBs across four Centres of Excellence in Pune, Guwahati, Chandigarh, and Mysuru.
The intensive one-week training will equip officers with modern geospatial technologies, including GNSS & ETS-based surveying, Web-GIS applications, and land parcel mapping, along with the legal-administrative aspects of urban land surveys. This initiative is vital for building a “Geospatial-Ready Workforce” to manage India’s rapidly growing urban population, projected to exceed 600 million by 2031. The NAKSHA program, already implemented in 157 ULBs across 27 states and 3 UTs, aims to create accurate, technology-driven land records through collaboration with the Survey of India, NICSI, and MPSeDC.
Empowering Rural Communities: The ‘Drone Didis’ Initiative
The event at Garuda Aerospace also featured an inspiring agri-drone demonstration by skilled ‘Drone Didis’, showcasing the company’s dedication to empowering rural communities through technology. The Bharat Drone Association (BDA) was also recognized for its crucial role in uniting local manufacturers under one roof, fostering a collaborative and robust drone industry.
This dual push—in cutting-edge drone innovation and comprehensive geospatial skilling—solidifies India’s position as a leader in applying advanced technology for both rural and urban development, aligning seamlessly with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India).