Market Forecast By Types (Fixed Wing Drone, Rotary Blade Drone, Hybrid Drone), By Applications (Surveying & Mapping, Filming & Photography, Inspection & Maintenance, Agriculture, Surveillance & Monitoring, Others (Environmental Conservation, Search & Rescue, etc.)), By Regions (Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern) and competitive landscape
| Product Code: ETC002695 | Publication Date: Aug 2023 | Updated Date: Dec 2025 | Product Type: Report | |
| Publisher: 6Wresearch | Author: Ravi Bhandari | No. of Pages: 70 | No. of Figures: 35 | No. of Tables: 5 |
According to 6Wresearch internal database and industry insights, the India Commercial Drone Market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2032.
Below mentioned are the evaluation of year-wise growth rate along with key drivers:
| Year | Est. Annual Growth (%) | Growth Drivers |
| 2021 | 8.8% | Initial adoption of drones for aerial photography, mapping, and infrastructure inspection. |
| 2022 | 10.5% | Implementation of the Drone Rules 2021, which has simplified the process for obtaining a licence to operate drones. |
| 2023 | 12.2% | Drones are used for agriculture-related applications such as crop spraying, mapping, and surveying. |
| 2024 | 13.8% | Increasing government support for the development of dedicated Drone Corridors, with a rise in demand for drones from both the infrastructure and mining sectors. |
| 2025 | 14.7% | Growth in domestic manufacturing under the PLI scheme, along with commercial and Defence usage. |
The India Commercial Drone Market report thoroughly covers the market by type, application, and region. It provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of ongoing market trends, opportunities, challenges, and market drivers, helping stakeholders align their strategies with current and future market dynamics.
| Report Name | India Commercial Drone Market |
|---|---|
| Forecast Period | 2026–2032 |
| CAGR | 15.6% |
| Growing Sector | Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) |
India Commercial Drone Market is anticipated to witness substantial growth due to strong government support for drone adoption, usage of drones across agriculture, infrastructure, media, and surveillance sectors, and rapid technological advancements in navigation, imaging, and battery systems. Moreover, the market is further supported by relaxed drone regulations, promoting the manufacturing of domestic drone, and increasing demand for cost-effective aerial data collection solutions. India push toward smart cities, digital agriculture, and infrastructure modernization is accelerating the adoption of commercial drones. With expanding applications and favorable regulatory frameworks, the India Commercial Drone Market Growth is expected to grow steadily during the forecast period.
Below mentioned are some prominent drivers and their impact on the India Commercial Drone Market dynamics:
| Drivers | Primary Segment Affected | Why It Matters (Evidence) |
| Supportive Government Regulations | All Segments | The Government has simplified the approval processes and reduced regulatory burdens with the Drone Rules 2021. |
| Agricultural Modernization | Agriculture | Many agricultural uses of drones for crop spraying, health monitoring and yield estimation. |
| Infrastructure & Smart City Projects | Surveying & Inspection | Drones support large-scale projects through efficient and accurate aerial mapping during construction, and progress tracking. |
| Technological Advancements | All Types | Improvements in AI, sensors, GPS, and batteries enhance drone efficiency and range. |
| Rising Demand for Aerial Data | Surveying, Filming | Drones provide faster and cost-effective data compared to traditional methods. |
India Commercial Drone Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.6% from 2026 to 2032. Factors driving the market growth include government support through various initiatives, the accelerating adoption of drones within both the Agricultural and Infrastructure sectors, and regular improvements in the functionality of drone hardware and software technology. As a result, the market is experiencing increasing demand for Commercial Drones in all sectors both Private and Public, as more industries adopt Drones as a way of conducting Survey, Inspection and Surveillance applications.
Additionally, demand for commercial drones is growing rapidly, due to rising levels of investment into Smart Cities, the rising preference to collect Data cheaply via Aerial means, and the proliferation of Drone as a Service (DaaS) models. Improvements in battery life, Payload Capacity, and the development of AI-enabled analytics are further enhancing the overall appeal of Commercial Drones in India.
Below mentioned are some major restraints and their influence on the India Commercial Drone Market dynamics:
| Restraints | Primary Segment Affected | What This Means (Evidence) |
| High Initial Equipment Cost | Small Enterprises | Advanced drones with sensor and camera capabilities are expensive for small operators. |
| Skilled Pilot Shortage | All Segments | Lack of trained drone pilots will restrict the adoption of drones on a large-scale. |
| Airspace Restrictions | Surveillance & Logistics | Need for approvals and no-fly zones restricts the drones ability to operate in sensitive areas. |
| Battery Limitations | Long-Range Operations | Restricted flight time of drones reduces the potential of drones to cover large areas efficiently. |
| Data Security Concerns | Surveillance & Mapping | The apprehension surrounding the misuse of data has slowed the uptake of drones in sensitive applications. |
India Commercial Drone Industry faces several challenges that affect its growth potential. High acquisition costs for advanced drones, the lack of certified pilots, and restrictions on flying in airspace provide obstacles to expansion. The restrictions on battery life, limited payload capacity, concerns about data security and privacy, as well as the shortage of operational procedures and non-indigenous components, create barriers for small operators using drones commercially. Ongoing policy reform, government-sponsored development of pilot training programs, expansion of certified training institutions, and a strong emphasis on developing acceptable indigenous manufacturing capabilities through government initiatives will assist in overcoming these challenges, while supporting the long-term growth of the Commercial Drone Market in India.
Trends driving the India Commercial Drone Market include:
Key investment avenues in the India Commercial Drone Industry are:
Below is the list of prominent companies leading in the India Commercial Drone Market:
| Company Name | ideaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Established Year | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India |
| Official Website | Click Here |
ideaForge is a leading Indian drone manufacturer specializing in surveillance, mapping, and security drones used by government and commercial clients.
| Company Name | Garuda Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Established Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Chennai, India |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Garuda Aerospace focuses on agricultural drones, inspection solutions, and drone services across multiple industries.
| Company Name | Asteria Aerospace Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Established Year | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Asteria Aerospace develops advanced UAV platforms for commercial and defense surveillance applications.
| Company Name | Skylark Drones |
|---|---|
| Established Year | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Skylark Drones provides drone-based data analytics solutions for infrastructure, mining, and construction sectors.
| Company Name | DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations |
|---|---|
| Established Year | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Pune, India |
| Official Website | Click Here |
DroneAcharya offers drone pilot training, surveying solutions, and enterprise drone services.
According to Indian government data several initiatives and policies support the growth of the drone industry. One of these is the Drone Rules 2021, which allows companies to apply for a license to fly a drone, thereby encouraging the use of drones for commercial purposes by simplifying licensing procedures, shortening the time needed to process applications, and making it easier for companies to obtain permission to use airspace. In addition to this, the Indian Government has also established a scheme called the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Drones, which provides financial support to manufacturers of domestic and international drones and will help strengthen the local drone manufacturing environment. Another government initiative, the SVAMITVA Programme, promotes drone use for accurate land mapping and digital land records in rural communities of India.
India Commercial Drone Market Share is anticipated to see significant growth resulting from technology advancements, increasing applications, and strong government policies supporting the growth of this industry. Other factors contributing to the growth of the market include increasing investments in building domestic drone manufacturing capabilities and increased use of Drone as a Service (DaaS) models and real-time aerial data from various sectors of the economy. The increased use of drones for agricultural monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and surveillance purposes is expected to drive the growth of the Commercial Drone Market in India over the next few years due to improvements in battery technology, artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation software, payload capacity, and data analytics capabilities. As these technologies become more advanced, they will continue to improve the operational function of Commercial Drones, making them an essential element for both government and private sector applications.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the following market segments and their leading categories:
According to Ekta, Senior Research Analyst, 6Wresearch, Rotary Blade Drones Will Continue to Dominate in the India Commercial Drone Market Based on their ability to perform a vertical takeoff and landing, ability to be easily maneuvered, suitability to be utilized in a wide variety of applications such as agricultural spraying, inspection, and surveillance.
Surveying and mapping is the dominant application segment, driven by large-scale infrastructure projects, smart city development, and land record digitization initiatives by the government.
Southern India leads the market due to the presence of major drone manufacturers, technology startups, skilled workforce, and high adoption across agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
The report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments:
| 1. Executive Summary |
| 2. Introduction |
| 2.1 Report Description |
| 2.2 Key Highlights of the Report |
| 2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation |
| 2.4 Research Methodology |
| 2.5 Assumptions |
| 3. India Commercial Drone Market Overview |
| 3.1 India Commercial Drone Market Revenues & Volume, 2022-2032F |
| 3.2 India Commercial Drone Market - Industry Life Cycle |
| 3.3 India Commercial Drone Market SWOT Analysis |
| 3.4 India Commercial Drone Market Ecosystem |
| 3.5 India Commercial Drone Market-Porter’s Five Forces |
| 3.6 India Commercial Drone Market Revenue Share, By Types, 2022 & 2032F |
| 3.7 India Commercial Drone Market Revenue Share, By Applications, 2022 & 2032F |
| 3.8 India Commercial Drone Market Revenue Share, By Regions, 2022 & 2032F |
| 4. India Commercial Drone Market Dynamics |
| 4.1 Impact Analysis |
| 4.2 Market Drivers |
| 4.2.1 Increasing adoption of drones for various commercial applications such as agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and surveying. |
| 4.2.2 Technological advancements in drone capabilities, such as improved battery life, better cameras, and increased payload capacity. |
| 4.2.3 Government initiatives and regulations supporting the use of drones in commercial activities. |
| 4.3 Market Restraint |
| 4.3.1 Concerns regarding safety and security risks associated with drone operations, including privacy issues and potential misuse. |
| 4.3.2 Limited awareness and understanding among businesses about the benefits and applications of commercial drones. |
| 4.3.3 High upfront costs of acquiring and maintaining commercial drones. |
| 5. India Commercial Drone Market Trends & Evolution |
| 6. India Commercial Drone Market Price Trend, By Types, 2022-2032F |
| 7. India Commercial Drone Market Overview, By Types |
| 7.1 India Fixed Wing Drone Market Revenues & Volume, 2022-2032F |
| 7.2 India Rotary Blade Drone Market Revenues & Volume, 2022-2032F |
| 7.3 India Hybrid Drone Market Revenues & Volume, 2022-2032F |
| 8. India Commercial Drone Market Overview, By Applications |
| 8.1. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Filming & Photography Application, 2022-2032F |
| 8.2. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Inspection & Maintenance Application, 2022-2032F |
| 8.3. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Mapping & Surveying Application, 2022-2032F |
| 8.4. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Agriculture Application, 2022-2032F |
| 8.5. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Surveillance & Monitoring Application, 2022-2032F |
| 8.6. India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Other Applications, 2022-2032F |
| 9. India Commercial Drone Market Overview, By Regions |
| 9.1 India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Eastern Region, 2022-2032F |
| 9.2 India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Western Region, 2022-2032F |
| 9.3 India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Northern Region, 2022-2032F |
| 9.4 India Commercial Drone Market Revenues, By Southern Region, 2022-2032F |
| 10. India Commercial Drone Market - Government Initiatives & Regulations |
| 11. India Commercial Drone Market - Key Performance Indicators |
| 12. India Commercial Drone Market Opportunity Assessment |
| 12.1 India Commercial Drone Market Opportunity Assessment, By Types, 2022-2032F |
| 12.2 India Commercial Drone Market Opportunity Assessment, By Applications, 2022-2032F |
| 12.3 India Commercial Drone Market Opportunity Assessment, By Regions, 2022-2032F |
| 13. India Commercial Drone Market Competitive Landscape |
| 13.1 India Commercial Drone Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Technical Parameters |
| 13.2 India Commercial Drone Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating Parameters |
| 13.3 India Commercial Drone Market Revenue Share, By Players, 2022-2032F |
| 14. Company Profiles |
| 14.1 Shenzhen DJI Innovation Technology Co. Ltd |
| 14.2 Ideaforge Technology Private Limited |
| 14.3 Johnnette Technologies Pvt Ltd |
| 14.4 Asteria Aerospace Pvt. Ltd |
| 14.5 Throttle Aerospace Systems Pvt. Ltd. |
| 14.6 Edall Systems |
| 14.7 Aarav Unmanned Systems Pvt Ltd. |
| 14.8 Detect Technologies Pvt Ltd. |
| 14.9 Kadet Defence Systems (P) Ltd. |
| 14.10 Rchobbytech Solutions Private Limited |
| 15. Key Strategic Recommendations |
| 16. Disclaimer |
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