India’s Path Toward BVLOS Drone Operations
In August 2021, the Ministry of Civil Aviation introduced the Drone Rules 2021, replacing the earlier Unmanned Aircraft Systems Rules notified in March of the same year. The revision followed feedback from academia, startups, and other stakeholders who found the earlier framework “restrictive in nature.” While the updated rules are more liberal in several respects, they stop short of authorizing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
BVLOS capability allows drones to be piloted remotely without maintaining direct visual contact. For commercial applications, this represents a critical leap. Such operations enable services ranging from healthcare deliveries and pipeline inspections to remote surveillance. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has stated that the government is actively working toward granting BVLOS approvals.
Historically, India’s drone regulations, enacted in December 2018, prohibited BVLOS flights. A white paper on Drone Policy 2.0, presented in January 2019 by then Minister for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, outlined broader applications, including goods delivery beyond visual range. The document was seen as a turning point for the domestic drone industry, yet widespread BVLOS activity remains absent.
Because most BVLOS applications target urban environments—particularly essential goods delivery—the Ministry has been developing an Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) policy. UTM systems, akin to air traffic control for manned aircraft, provide automated coordination between drones in flight. They track real-time positions, issue anti-collision alerts, and facilitate inter-drone communication. A formal UTM framework is slated for publication on the Digital Sky platform within 60 days of the rules’ notification.
BVLOS drones must contend with operational challenges similar to those faced by aircraft. They require constant updates on weather, geographic and demographic conditions, and changes to airspace status. Continuous internet connectivity is essential for accurate UTM functioning, achievable via 4G networks or unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency bands.
Safety remains a priority in regulatory planning. Geo-fencing is mandated beyond certain altitudes and for most weight categories, while operator insurance is required to cover potential losses from commercial flights. These measures aim to mitigate risks inherent in autonomous or semi-autonomous aerial operations.
In May 2019, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) invited companies to participate in BVLOS sandboxes—controlled environments for testing under regulatory oversight. Selected projects were permitted to operate in designated airspaces to trial deliveries, surveillance, cargo transport, and infrastructure inspection. The goal is to generate evidence-based requirements for future BVLOS regulations.
From 34 proposals, the DGCA approved 13 consortia, including Reliance-backed Asteria Aerospace, Nandan Nilekani-backed ShopXOmnipresent, SpiceJet, and Google-backed Dunzo. These groups combine drone manufacturers, UTM developers, data analytics firms, safety specialists, and other service providers. ShopXOmnipresent and ANRA focus on delivery trials, Saubika targets military and disaster surveillance, SpiceJet explores cargo transport, and Asteria undertakes long pipeline surveys at crude oil refineries.
Some state and health agencies have also received conditional exemptions for BVLOS experiments. In May 2021, the Government of Telangana tested vaccine deliveries via drone. The National Health Mission in Mumbai followed with trials delivering healthcare supplies to tribal areas in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. On 20 August, Throttle Aerospace Systems, in partnership with e-commerce platform Udaan, successfully completed a BVLOS medicine delivery in Bengaluru under DGCA supervision.
“BVLOS trials will help create (a) framework for future drone deliveries and other major applications using drones,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated. Once these projects conclude and sufficient data is collected on safety, security, and operational viability, the DGCA may relax current restrictions.
India’s regulators are also studying BVLOS frameworks in the United States and European Union, where operational risk assessments, security protocols, and mitigation strategies have been formalized. These international models could inform India’s transition toward a drone-friendly regulatory environment that balances innovation with safety.
