Industry lauds as India's draft rules for drones enter official gazette

Drone firms say the step may encourage an entire supply chain based on these machines, urges faster implementation of the process

In 2014, Francesco’s Pizzeria in Mumbai tried to deliver pizzas through drones. The first flight lasted 20 minutes, but within hours police arrived at the restaurant to question staff because they had no permission to fly the drone.
 

Six years later, India took the first step towards legalising drones by officially publishing draft rules for drone operations in the Official Gazette on Friday. The rules, termed The Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2020, are open for public consultation for 30 days.
 

According to the draft, unveiled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which will be the regulating authority for