Drone Flying Rules in India 2025: Complete Guide on Regulations & Safety

Flying your drone in India is a great experience. But you need to navigate through the legal and safety landscape responsibly. This all-inclusive guide will provide you with the necessary knowledge about drone flying rules in India, keeping you compliant with DGCA regulations and promoting safe drone operation.

Drone Flying Laws in India: All that a Pilot Should Know

Indian drone industries are rapidly advancing, and the rules keep changing so that safe integration of the UAVs could be there in the space. Hence, the rules and laws governing drone flying regulations need to be learned by all drone pilots operating for commercial or recreational use.

Indian Drone Flying Laws and Regulation Legal Framework

The main legal framework for drone flying regulations in India was provided by the DGCA's Civil Aviation Regulations or CAR. These regulations also have specific guidelines and amendments issued by the DGCA.

Some of the important regulatory bodies are as mentioned below:

●       Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA): Frames overall direction for policy in relation to drone operations.

●       Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA: Issues regulations besides granting permissions and ensuring observance.

●       National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC): It manages the Digital Sky platform for the registration of drones and air space authorization.

Types of Drones and Related Regulations to Fly in India

The DGCA categorizes drones on the basis of weight into five categories with respective rules for registration and flying in India:

1. Nano

Weight: Below 250 grams

Registration: Not required

Flying Rules: Fly within a line of sight below 50 feet.

2. Micro

Weight: 250 grams to 2 kg

Registration: Online registration mandatory

Flying Rules: Fly below 200 feet within VLOS, keep away from areas having population.

3. Small

Weight: 2 kg to 25 kg

Registration: Online registration with UIN required.

Flying Rules: Keep altitude below 400 feet while in VLOS with Airspace permission for the controlled airspace.

4. Medium

Weight: 25 kg to 150 kg

Registration: Permissions required.

Flying Rules: Specific pilot licensing may be necessary for each flight.

5. Large

Weight: More than 150 kg

Registration: Permissions are necessary.

Flying Rules: Specific pilot license may be required for flying the drone and permission should be taken for every flight undertaken.

Important Note: Refer to the latest version of DGCA regulations for the specifics and updates.

General Drone Flying Rules in India

The following is the most basic drone flying regulations in India that applies to all categories in India:

1. Keep it within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): Keep the drone within the visual range without any form of assistance so that control and situational awareness are assured.
   
   

2. Fly in the Daytime: Drones are only flown during daylight hours unless cleared for nighttime flying.
   
   

3. No Sensitive Areas: One is not allowed to fly near airports, military installations, government buildings, or any other restricted airspace. Use the Digital Sky for no-fly zones.
   
   

4. Fly Away From People and Objects: Avoid Flying Closely to Humans or Objects: When operating drones near people, animals, or property in order to prevent accidents and breachs of privacy. Respect Privacy: Intruding upon someone's privacy with drone use is illegal.
   
   

5. Sensitive to Noise Pollution: Fly drones in noise-sensitive areas only when necessary and avoid flying them there altogether.
   
   

6. Top Most Drone Flying Rules India Registration & Unique Identification Number (UIN): Any drone weighing 250 grams or more must register online with the DGCA and obtain a UIN before flying it commercially in India.
   
   

7. Digital Sky Platform: Registration on the Digital Sky platform, airspace authorization for controlled airspace and pre-flight flight clearance for certain categories are all required to fly in controlled airspace near an airport or commercially.
   
   

8. DGCA Permission: In order to fly in controlled airspace or commercial flying activities, permission from DGCA may be required.
   
   

9. Drone Insurance: Although not mandatory for all classes of drones, drone insurance is recommended in case any damage occurs to either your own property or that of third parties.
   
   Pilot Licenses (RPL) are mandatory for commercial drone operations or heavier drones classified Medium and Large categories by the DGCA; for other classes they are recommended.

Safety Guidelines for Flying Drones in India

Flying drones should always be done safely. Here are a few guidelines for responsible flight.

●       Pre-Flight Inspection: Prior to flight, inspect your drone for damage or malfunctions before flying it.

●       Weather: Drones should not be flown in bad weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rainfall or poor visibility.

●       Liquor or Drug Consumption: Consuming liquor or drugs while operating a drone should also be strictly forbidden.

●       Make Sure Not to Invade Privacy: Take caution when flying your drone in areas where privacy could reasonably be expected, such as parks.

Penalty for Unlawful Conduct of Operating a Drone Over India

Violating the rules for flying drones in India may lead to very severe penalties, such as:

●       Financial Punishment: This could be through flying without authorization, by entering restricted airspaces or even endangering people's or property lives.

●       Taking the Drone: The relevant authorities can seize drones in the event that they're illegally operated.

●       Legal Litigation: There is this severe case that may entail taking legal litigation against people who operate these drones.

●       Loss of Licence: Flouting the requirements is amongst grounds for withdrawing or invalidation of an RPL for one possessing a licence as a remote pilot.

This means that the violation should be known and well adhered to, thus preventing the mentioned penalties.

How Can Berry Avionics Help?

Berry Avionics is playing an instrumental role in supporting safe, compliant drone operations in India. We assist drone pilots as follows:

Provide quality drone components and accessories.

We have an array of reliable drone components and accessories that will make your drone in the right shape to fly safely and efficiently.

Some of these are required parts such as motors, propellers, batteries, flight controllers, and more. Quality components will cut down the probability of faults that can bring about malfunctions or violations.

Offering Expert Advice on Drone Technology

Our team is well versed in the knowledge of drone technology and regulations. We can advise you on the selection of the right drone components and accessories based on your needs and the applicable regulations to ensure you are flying with compliant and reliable equipment.

Berry Avionics encourages safe drone practices through the content we provide, workshops (whenever possible), and our reliable equipment. With these resources and information, we enable the drone pilots to understand and comply with the latest rules of drone flying in India.

Keeping Abreast Of Updates

We update ourselves with changes in regulation regarding drones so that all our resources and counsel at all times reflect the most recent update so that customers always receive the most current and best advice to comply.

Berry Avionics is committed to the thriving Drone Community in India both through active participation in relevant events and through support on adoption and building of the right drone-riding culture.

With Berry Avionics, you will receive a trusted partner for commitment towards supporting your journey: safe and compliant on this drone. Check our product and resources at https://www.berryavionics.com/.

FAQs on Drone flying rules in India

1. Do I need permission to fly a drone in India?

This again depends upon whether you are flying in any of India's states within the less than 250 grams or more weight categories and, of course, the region you intend to fly the drone.

●       Nano drones less than 250 grams: Generally speaking, no permission is needed for flying below 50 feet in uncontrolled airspace while within the VLOS in India. However, all general guidelines for safety as well as restricted areas still apply.

●       Micro, Small, Medium, and Large drones: Registration is mandatory for Micro drones and above. For flying in controlled airspace or for commercial purposes, prior permission from the DGCA is required through the Digital Sky platform.

Always check the latest DGCA regulations before any flight and also refer to the Digital Sky platform for detailed airspace restrictions and permission required. Needless to say, always go for the Best Dgca Approved Drone Training Institute In Bangalore!

2. Are DJI drones banned in India?

Absolutely not; DJI drones are not banned in India. Instead, the DGCA regulates and restricts all drones regardless of brand and model - whether DJI-made or otherwise-strictly, so all operators must abide by all existing flying rules when operating drones.

Seeking permission based on circumstances where possible and following current governing policies for flying them safely in certain circumstances. Though there were certain temporary bans due to security considerations during certain time frames which affected some models specifically rather than all brands equally.

3. How high can I fly my drone in India?

The maximum permissible altitude for drone flying in India is determined as per the category of drones and the airspace:

●       For nano drones, it can be flown below 50 feet AGL (above ground level).

●       For Micro drones, it can fly below 200 feet AGL.

●       For small drone category, it can operate below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace. When flying in controlled airspace it needs permission in advance.

●       For medium and Large drones, there is certain altitude due to the Flight plan and permissions given by DGCA.

Always check on the latest guidelines by the DGCA and the Digital Sky platform for specific altitude restrictions in your intended flight area.

Also Read this - How to Get Drone License in India 2025