Draft Drone Bill 2025 mandates registration, safety features, and insurance for operators

The Bill retains the Digital Sky zoning system, classifying airspace into green, yellow, and red zones. Flying in green zones will be permitted freely, while yellow zones require ATC clearance.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

The Centre’s draft ‘Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025’, has proposed provisions such as mandatory registration, safety and security features, as well as insurance, amongst other requirements for unmanned aircraft systems’ operations in the country.

Accordingly, the draft Bill, which was released on Tuesday, will repeal the existing ‘Drone Rules of 2021’ and its subsequent amendments.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has called for stakeholders’ comments on the draft bill by September 30, 2025.

DGCA retained as regulator

In terms of provisions, the draft Bill retains the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as the primary regulatory authority.

The draft mandates that no drone will be allowed to operate without registration and issuance of a Unique Identification Number (UIN) by the DGCA.

Similarly, manufacturers would be required to obtain a type certification from DGCA before their drones can be sold or operated in India.

Safety, security features compulsory

Further, the draft proposed to include mandatory inclusion of safety and security features in drones, to be notified by the government from time to time.

These features are intended to ensure airworthiness, prevent tampering, and enable traceability of drone operations.

“No person shall manufacture or assemble, offer for sale, transfer or cause to transfer, operate or cause to operate any unmanned aircraft system that does not incorporate the mandatory safety and security features as prescribed by the central government or unless the unmanned aircraft system is exempted from such requirement,” the draft read.

Compulsory insurance for operators

Notably, provision for insurance has been made compulsory, with third-party coverage required for all operators unless specifically exempted by the government.

“The insurance company shall, upon receiving information of the accident, either from the claimant or through an accident information report or otherwise, designate an officer to settle the claims relating to such accident,” the draft read.

Digital Sky zones retained

In terms of operational airspace, the draft retains the concept of a ‘Digital Sky’ online platform of zoning that will segregate skies into green, yellow, and red zones.

While operations in green zones will be freely permitted, flying in yellow zones will require clearance from air traffic control.

“No person shall operate an unmanned aircraft system in a red zone without prior permission from the central government and the red zone creating agencies,” the draft read.

Besides, violations in restricted airspace have been classified as cognisable and non-compoundable offences, attracting up to three years’ imprisonment or fines extending to ₹1 lakh.

Compensation for victims proposed

Furthermore, the Bill proposed to set aside a compensation mechanism for victims of a drone accident.

“The owner of the unmanned aircraft system or the authorised insurer shall be liable to pay, in the case of death or grievous hurt due to any accident arising out of the use of unmanned aircraft system, a compensation of a sum of two and a half lakh rupees in case of death or one lakh rupees in case of grievous hurt to the legal heirs or the victim, as the case may be,” the draft read.

 Claim tribunals to handle drone cases

Under the draft Bill, the ‘Motor Accident Claim Tribunals’ has been proposed to be designated as “the claim tribunal for the purpose of adjudicating upon claims for compensation in respect of accidents involving the death of, or bodily injury to, persons arising out of the use of unmanned aircraft system, loss or damages to any property of a third party so arising, or both.”

Published on September 16, 2025