Namo Drone Didi Scheme

Overview

The Namo Drone Didi Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 November 2023 (via video conferencing) to empower women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by equipping them with agricultural drones. With an outlay of ₹1,261 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, the scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission).

The scheme transforms rural women from traditional farm labourers into drone service providers, enabling them to offer precision spraying services for fertilizers and pesticides to farmers in their clusters.

Financial Assistance

Subsidy Structure

• Central Financial Assistance (CFA): 80% of the cost of the drone package, up to a maximum of ₹8 lakh per SHG
• Remaining 20%: SHGs can raise this as a loan from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with a 3% interest subvention from the government
• The drone package includes: spray assembly, carrying box, batteries, fast charger, pH meter, anemometer, and accessories
• Warranty: 1 year on the complete drone package
• Annual Maintenance: 2 years of maintenance support included
• Insurance: Comprehensive insurance coverage included

Training Programme

15-Day Training for SHG Members

Two members from each selected SHG receive training:

• Drone Pilot (Member 1): 5-day mandatory drone pilot training certified by DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)
• Technician/Operator (Member 2): 10-day training covering agricultural application — nutrient spraying, pesticide application, crop health assessment
• Training covers drone operation, maintenance, safety protocols, battery management, and agricultural spraying techniques
• Training is provided by Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) who serve as the implementation partners

Implementation Framework

Cluster-Based Approach

• SHGs are selected from rural areas under DAY-NRLM where there is demand for drone-based agricultural services
• Implementation follows a cluster model — each drone-equipped SHG serves a cluster of villages
• Selection prioritises areas where manual spraying is labour-intensive, costly, or hazardous

Collaborative Multi-Department Effort

The scheme involves coordination between:

• Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare — nodal department
• Department of Rural Development — SHG selection via DAY-NRLM
• Department of Fertilisers — Lead Fertilizer Companies as implementation partners
• Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) — distribute drones, provide training, ensure after-sales support

Progress and Distribution

Phase 1 (2023-24)

• Lead Fertilizer Companies distributed 1,094 drones to drone didis of SHGs using their internal resources
• Of these, 500 drones were formally distributed under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme

Phase 2 (2024-25)

• Target: Distribute drones to 3,090 SHGs in the first phase of FY 2024-25
• Operational guidelines formally released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Impact Assessment

A government impact study found that:

• SHGs previously engaged only in traditional agriculture and allied activities have expanded into modern agricultural practices through drone technology
• Drone adoption has diversified SHG activities, improved agricultural efficiency, and created new income streams
• Women drone pilots have become role models in their villages, encouraging other women to adopt technology

Drone Operations and Revenue Model

Services Offered by Drone Didis

• Liquid fertilizer spraying — urea, DAP solutions, micronutrients
• Pesticide application — insecticides, fungicides, herbicides
• Seed sowing (in select crops)
• Crop health monitoring (visual assessment during flights)

Revenue Generation

• SHGs charge farmers a service fee per acre for drone spraying
• Expected additional income: at least ₹1 lakh per year per SHG
• Drone spraying covers 1 acre in approximately 15 minutes vs 5-6 hours for manual spraying
• 30-40% savings on chemical inputs due to precision spraying (reduced wastage)

Latest Developments

• 1,094 drones distributed by Lead Fertilizer Companies to drone didis in FY 2023-24, of which 500 were formally under the Namo Drone Didi Scheme and the rest through LFC internal resources
• Phase 2 rollout (FY 2024-25) targets distribution to 3,090 SHGs with operational guidelines formally released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
• SMAM multi-utility vehicle provision added — under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization, 80% financial assistance is now available to Namo Drone Didi SHGs for purchasing multi-utility machines for drone transport, addressing the transportation challenge faced by 42.68% of drone didis
• Government impact study findings — SHGs have diversified from traditional agriculture into modern practices; drone adoption has created new income streams and women drone pilots have become village-level role models
• Scheme period: 2023-24 to 2025-26 — with the final year underway, the government is scaling up distribution to meet the 15,000 SHG target
• Drone pilot training ongoing — DGCA-certified 5-day drone pilot training for one SHG member and 10-day agriculture application training for a second member continues across states through LFC partners

Prelims Importance

• Namo Drone Didi is a Central Sector Scheme (100% Central funding, not Centrally Sponsored)
• Launched: 30 November 2023 by PM Modi via video conferencing
• Total outlay: ₹1,261 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26
• Target: 15,000 Women SHGs to be provided drones
• Subsidy: 80% of drone cost up to ₹8 lakh; remaining 20% via AIF loan with 3% interest subvention
• Training: 15-day programme (5 days drone pilot + 10 days agriculture application)
• Implementation partners: Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs)
• SHGs selected under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission)
• DAY-NRLM is under the Ministry of Rural Development
• DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) certifies drone pilot training
• India’s drone policy is governed by the Drone Rules, 2021 under the Aircraft Act, 1934
• Drone categories: Nano (<250g), Micro (250g-2kg), Small (2-25kg), Medium (25-150kg), Large (>150kg)
• Agriculture drones typically fall under the Small category (2-25 kg)

Mains & Interview Importance

GS3 — Science & Technology (Drone Technology in Agriculture)

• Analyse how drone technology can address the labour shortage in Indian agriculture (average farm size: 1.08 hectares, ageing farmer population)
• Discuss the precision agriculture revolution — drones reduce input costs by 30-40% through targeted spraying
• Evaluate India’s drone ecosystem: PLI scheme for drones, Drone Rules 2021, Drone Shakti initiative, Kisan Drone

GS3 — Economy (Women Empowerment & Livelihoods)

• Namo Drone Didi as a model for technology-mediated women empowerment in rural India
• Compare with Lakhpati Didi initiative (target: 3 crore SHG women earning ₹1 lakh+/year)
• Discuss the SHG-Bank linkage model and how drone income adds a new revenue stream

GS1 — Social Issues (Gender & Technology)

• Breaking gender stereotypes: women as drone pilots in rural India
• The role of SHGs as platforms for technology adoption and skill development

Essay Connections

• “Technology as the great equaliser — from manual sprayers to drone operators”
• “Women empowerment through economic independence: the SHG revolution”

Interview Angles

• “Can 15,000 drones meaningfully impact Indian agriculture that has 146 million operational holdings?”
• “What happens after the 3-year scheme period — is the drone business model sustainable for SHGs without government support?”
• “How do you address the digital divide and technical literacy gap among rural women for drone operations?”
• “Should drone spraying be regulated more strictly given concerns about chemical drift and environmental impact?”

Sources: PIB, Lakhpati Didi Portal, ClearTax, Wikipedia