Drone Regulations India 2026: Complete DGCA Rules Guide for Hobbyists

Flying a drone in India in 2026 is exciting — but getting the rules wrong can lead to fines up to ₹1 lakh, drone confiscation, or even criminal charges. The Drone Rules 2021, updated through 2024–2025 amendments and the Digital Sky Platform, have significantly streamlined compliance compared to the old UAS Policy. But the rules remain complex, especially for hobbyists and first-time builders.

This guide covers everything you need to know as an Indian drone hobbyist or builder — registration, permissions, airspace classification, insurance, pilot certification, and the latest 2025–2026 amendments to the DGCA framework.

1. Overview of Drone Rules 2021

India replaced the old UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Rules 2021 — itself a replacement of the 2018 Civil Aviation Requirement — with the simplified Drone Rules 2021 notified on August 25, 2021 (GSR 589(E)). Key changes from the previous policy:

Trust-based governance: Self-certification replaced mandatory third-party inspection for most drones
No security clearance required for Indian citizens and companies
No import clearance for DGCA-approved drones (removed for most categories)
Nano and Micro drones have significantly simplified requirements
Digital Sky is the single window for all permissions, registration, and logs

The rules cover all Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) operating in Indian airspace, including those flown for hobby, research, commercial, and government purposes.

Important: Model aircraft flown within the visual line of sight (VLOS) at altitudes up to 15m AGL for personal/hobby use in uncongested areas are governed by a lighter regime, but they still require basic DGCA compliance above 250g.

2. Drone Categories by Weight

DGCA classifies drones into 5 categories based on Maximum All-Up Weight (MAUW) including payload:

Category	MAUW	Registration	RPAS Pilot Licence
Nano	≤250g	Not required	Not required
Micro	250g – 2kg	Required (UIN)	Not required (hobby)
Small	2kg – 25kg	Required (UIN)	Required
Medium	25kg – 150kg	Required (UIN)	Required
Large	>150kg	Required (UIN)	Required (CoA needed)

Most hobbyist FPV racing drones fall in the Micro category (250g–2kg) or the Nano category (under 250g). If your drone with battery weighs under 250g, you are in the lightest compliance tier.

3. Registration and UIN

For drones above 250g, you must obtain a Unique Identification Number (UIN) through the Digital Sky Platform. Here’s how:

Step-by-Step UIN Registration

Visit digitalsky.dgca.gov.in and create an account with Aadhaar-based e-KYC
Choose “Drone Registration” from the dashboard
Enter drone details: manufacturer, model, MAUW, serial number, and category
Upload documents: invoice/purchase proof, manufacturer’s declaration, passport photo
Pay registration fee (₹100 for Micro, ₹1000 for Small, ₹5000 for Medium, ₹10,000 for Large)
DGCA reviews and issues UIN (typically 3–7 working days)
Display UIN on the drone body (minimum 25mm font size)

For DIY / custom-built drones (the kind most hobbyists build), you register as the manufacturer with drone type “Others” and provide a self-declaration of the drone’s specifications.

DIY Builder Note: When registering a self-built drone, the builder is considered the manufacturer. Use the drone’s serial number from your flight controller or assign one. There is no requirement for an airworthiness certificate for Micro category drones.

4. Digital Sky Platform and NPNT

Digital Sky is India’s unified drone traffic management (UTM) system. It implements No Permission No Takeoff (NPNT) — a technical and regulatory framework where your drone’s flight computer checks airspace permission before allowing motors to arm.

How NPNT Works

You submit a flight plan (location, altitude, time window) via the Digital Sky app or API
Digital Sky verifies airspace class, issues a digitally signed Permission Artefact (PA)
Your NPNT-compliant flight controller (e.g., DroneOS-compatible Pixhawk) validates the PA and arms only if it is valid
Flight logs are automatically uploaded post-flight

Current NPNT Status (2026)

As of 2026, NPNT enforcement is gradually being rolled out. The DGCA has mandated NPNT compliance for all new drones sold after January 2024. However, existing hobbyist drones and drones imported before 2024 are in a grace period. Always check the latest DGCA circulars for your specific drone model.

For hobbyist flights in Green zones, you can log your flight on Digital Sky without strict NPNT enforcement — a simple mission declaration is sufficient.

5. Airspace Zones: Green, Yellow, Red

The DGCA Interactive Airspace Map (part of Digital Sky) divides India into three airspace zones:

Green Zone — Fly with Basic Compliance

Altitude up to 120m AGL (400 feet)
No prior permission required for Micro and below
Must be VLOS (visual line of sight)
No flying over crowds, highways, or sensitive infrastructure
Most rural and suburban areas fall here

Yellow Zone — Prior Permission Required

Controlled airspace around airports (8–12 km from ATZ boundary)
Areas above 120m AGL in most zones
Requires Digital Sky flight permission application (usually approved within 24 hours for low-risk flights)
Specific altitude restrictions vary by distance from airport

Red Zone — Prohibited Airspace

Permanent Red: Within 3 km of airports, military installations, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament, nuclear plants, research labs
Temporary Red: Declared during VIP movements, sporting events, elections
Flying in Red Zone = criminal offence under Aircraft Act 1934, Section 11 — penalty up to ₹1 lakh and/or imprisonment

Always check the DGCA Interactive Airspace Map before every flight at interactive.dgca.gov.in. Red zone boundaries are frequently updated, especially during elections, cricket matches (IPL), and Republic Day/Independence Day periods.

6. Pilot Certification (RPAS Licence)

For drones above 2kg (Small and above), an RPAS Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) is mandatory. For Micro category used for hobby, it is not required — but strongly recommended for insurance and incident reporting purposes.

Getting Your Remote Pilot Certificate

Eligibility: Minimum 18 years, Class 2 medical certificate, Class 10 pass
Training: Enrol at a DGCA-approved Drone Training School (DTS). Training includes ground theory (meteorology, air regulations, nav) and practical flying hours
Exam: Computer-based theory exam at DGCA exam centers + practical skill test at DTS
Certificate: Valid 5 years, renewable. Issued by DGCA through Digital Sky

As of 2026, there are 60+ DGCA-approved drone training schools across India including institutions in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. Course fees range from ₹15,000–₹40,000.

7. Insurance Requirements

Third-party insurance is mandatory for all drones above 250g. This covers damage to third-party property or injury to persons caused by your drone. Key points:

Minimum cover: ₹5 lakh for Micro, ₹50 lakh for Small, ₹100 lakh for Medium/Large
Insurers offering drone policies in India (2026): New India Assurance, United India, IFFCO-Tokio, Bajaj Allianz
Annual premium for Micro hobby drone: ₹1,500–₹3,000/year
Policy must be active at time of flight — proof required on demand by DGCA inspectors

8. Special Rules for Hobbyists

If you fly purely for recreation — FPV racing, aerial photography for personal use, or just practicing — here is what specifically applies to you:

What You MUST Do

Register on Digital Sky if your drone weighs over 250g
Display UIN on the drone
Carry third-party insurance
Fly only in Green Zone or get Yellow Zone permission
Stay within VLOS — you must be able to see your drone with naked eye at all times
Fly below 120m AGL in Green Zone
Fly only during daytime (civil twilight to civil twilight)

What You MUST NOT Do

Fly over people or moving vehicles
Fly within 500m of international borders
Carry weapons, chemicals, or biological materials
Conduct surveillance over private property without consent
Fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Transfer UIN to another owner without Digital Sky update

FPV Racing Clubs

Organised FPV racing events can apply for a Temporary Segregated Area (TSA) through the local ATC/DGCA regional office. This allows racing within a defined 3D volume with waived altitude restrictions, enabling low-altitude racing circuits without conflicting with individual Green Zone rules.

110cm Diameter Fast-fold Landing Pad for RC Drone

110cm Fast-Fold Landing Pad / Helipad for RC Drone

Bright orange/yellow 110cm landing pad. A must-have for hobbyist operations — clearly marks your take-off/landing zone and helps maintain DGCA-compliant safe operating areas.

View on Zbotic

9. Penalties for Violations

Violation	Penalty
Flying unregistered drone (>250g)	Up to ₹25,000
Flying in Red Zone	Up to ₹1,00,000 + imprisonment
Flying without insurance	Up to ₹10,000
Flying above 120m AGL without permission	Up to ₹50,000
Flying BVLOS without approval	Up to ₹75,000
Drone confiscation (security threat)	Permanent or until court order

10. 2025–2026 Policy Updates

Several significant policy changes have been implemented or announced for 2025–2026:

Drone Corridors

DGCA has approved 3 drone corridors for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) commercial operations — Ladakh (minerals survey), Telangana (pharma delivery), and Andhra Pradesh (coastal monitoring). Hobbyists are not permitted in these corridors.

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Policy

Ministry of Civil Aviation released the UAM policy framework covering air taxis and cargo drones in urban centres. This will affect hobbyists in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai as temporary Red zones may be extended around UAM corridors.

Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

The PLI scheme for drones (₹120 crore) continues to benefit Indian drone manufacturers. More DGCA-certified drones are now available domestically, reducing the need for imports and associated compliance complications for hobbyists.

RPAS Type Certification

As of 2025, all commercially imported drones above Micro category must have DGCA Type Certification. For DIY builders, self-certification still applies — but DGCA may require type test data for novel designs including VTOLs.

3DR Single TTL MINI Radio Telemetry 433MHz for PIXHAWK

3DR Single TTL MINI Radio Telemetry 433MHz 500mW for Pixhawk

Compact 433MHz telemetry link. Keeps you connected to your drone for real-time GPS tracking, altitude logging, and DGCA-compliant flight data recording.

View on Zbotic

25x25x8mm 28dB GPS Antenna for NEO-6M NEO-7M NEO-8M

25x25x8mm 28dB High Gain Active GPS Antenna for NEO-6M/7M/8M

High gain ceramic GPS antenna for accurate positioning. Reliable GPS fix is essential for DGCA-compliant flight logging and geofence enforcement on Digital Sky.

View on Zbotic

FAQs

Q: Do I need to register my DJI Mini 3 in India?

A: The DJI Mini 3 weighs 248g — under the 250g Nano threshold — so registration is not required. However, you must still follow Green/Yellow/Red zone rules and carry insurance if you fly commercially.

Q: Can I fly FPV with goggles in India legally?

A: FPV with goggles technically means BVLOS (you can’t see the drone with naked eyes). BVLOS requires special permission from DGCA. To be compliant, always fly with a spotter who maintains visual contact with the drone while you use FPV goggles.

Q: How long does DGCA drone registration take in 2026?

A: Registration through Digital Sky typically takes 3–7 working days. In practice, most straightforward registrations are approved within 48–72 hours as of 2026 with the improved Digital Sky platform.

Q: Can minors fly drones in India?

A: Persons under 18 cannot obtain an RPAS Remote Pilot Certificate. However, there is no explicit age restriction for hobby flying of Nano/Micro drones under adult supervision, provided all other rules are followed. Commercial operations require the pilot to be 18+.

Q: Is a selfie with my drone proof of registration enough?

A: No. You must carry your Digital Sky registration certificate (downloadable from the platform) and display the UIN on the drone. Enforcement officers can demand both the physical UIN on the drone and the registration document.