Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about India Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about India’s drone laws. We also will be covering the following information such as where to get the drone permit for this country, as well as the best drones to fly, travel guides, and contact information to the civil aviation authority of the stated country. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:

Introduction to India Drone Laws

The drone laws in India is relatively new as the civil aviation authority is easing up to the public use of quadcopters. If you are looking to fly your drones in India, this is a very good opportunity to take advantage as they recently opened up to the public. India is a very large country which means there are so many places to fly your drone to capture stunning aerial footages. Whether you are a recreational or commercial drone operator, you need to make sure you are following the drone rules and regulations in India:

• Fly only during the daylight hours.
• Fly when the weather visibility condition is good.
• Maintain a clear visual line of sight on your drone at all the drones.
• A remote pilot is always allowed to fly up to one drone at a time.
• Drones are not allowed to carry any payloads.
• Maintain at least 3 miles away from airports/heliports/aerodromes.
• Maintain at least 15 miles away from the international border.
• Don’t fly further than 500 meters from the sea.
• Don’t operate within 2 miles of military bases.
• Never fly overcrowded areas and prohibited zones, although permissions can be granted if approved before flying.

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Getting Drone Permit for India

Before you can fly your drones in India, you need to register with DGCA and get prior approval to flying. They are quite strict about it for instance you need to inform the local police 24 hours before a flight. You also need to be at least 18 years old to operate the drone, completed a training course and passed the exam in English. However, if you have a valid remote pilot license already, then all you need to do is register provided the following information:

• A valid proof of remote pilot license.
• Valid drone insurance.
• Drone serial number / make / model
• Contact information
• Birth Date

You can register your drone with DGCA via here.

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Drone Traveling Tips to India

There are several methods to travel to another country with your drone. Read our important traveling tips to get the latest scoop on the best drone traveling practices and become informed. In this section, we will be covering what to do if you are traveling by air or by sea.

Traveling by Air

If you decided to travel by air and would like to bring your drone with you. You need to be aware that the airlines can only reimburse up to $1,000 for loss and damage to your property, including drone and its gear. That’s because of the Montreal Convention which limits how much airlines are allowed to pay you up to a maximum value of $1,000 — no matter how expensive your drone is.

Therefore, we highly encourage bringing your drone and its accessories as carry-on all the times. Furthermore, the drone batteries can’t be in the check luggages. Because they are prone to extreme temperature that poses fire hazards when undergoing temperature change. In rare circumstances, some airlines have strict policy and you will be only given the option to check luggage. To avoid this from happening, we recommend buying these fireproof drone battery bags:

• Colcase Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 198 x 150 x 135mm)
• Apex RC Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 240 x  65 x  180mm)
• Realacc Upgraded Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 220 x 155 x 115mm)

Traveling by Sea

Generally, you are allowed to bring your drone with you. But that depends on the cruise’s policy regarding to use of the drones. The only time you can operate your drone is when you are on land, never while the ship is in process of ferrying to other country. Flying the drones at the ports is also not allowed. Because each cruise companies are unique, we encourage you to check and familiarize with their policy on drones. Reach out to get more information if possible.

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Best Drones for India

These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as India due to their flying specifications and camera capabilities. Be sure to read each drone review guide by visiting each link so that you can decide which quadcopter you want to buy before going on a vacation.

Alternatively, you can visit our shop to see a wide selection of prosumer drones that are currently for sale on the best price deals. We only recommend the best drones for traveling that are portable, compact and equipped with powerful camera capabilities, while striving to provide affordable options for those who are looking to get started.

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Contact Information

If you need additional information about drone regulations and flying in India. Keep it in mind that we try our best to provide the latest information about drone laws. Because the drone laws are not universal, they can wildly vary from a country with lax regulations to another country that has strict regulations. For any drone regulations that you are not sure, feel free to contact the Aviation Safety Inspector directly:

India Civil Aviation Authority Office

E-mail: a.yadav@ias.nic.in
Tel: 011 2463 2950