What Happened
- Karnataka has emerged as the top-performing state under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana, a central sector scheme that trains women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as drone pilots for agricultural services.
- The scheme aims to empower rural women SHGs by equipping them with drone technology to provide fertiliser and pesticide spraying services to farmers on a rental basis.
- Karnataka's strong performance under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) network is a key enabler, as the scheme works through the SHG ecosystem.
- Parliament was informed in March 2026 that the central government approved Rs 1,261 crore for the scheme for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
- Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) are co-implementing partners, having distributed 500 drones to SHGs under the scheme as of early 2026.
Static Topic Bridges
Namo Drone Didi Yojana — Scheme Design and Objectives
Namo Drone Didi was announced by the Union Cabinet and formally launched as a central sector scheme in November 2024. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in coordination with the Ministry of Rural Development (through the DAY-NRLM SHG network). The scheme targets the provision of 15,000 drones to selected Women SHGs by 2025-26. Each SHG receives a drone package with a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 80% of the drone package cost, up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh. The Cluster Level Federation (CLF) acts as the intermediate aggregator for SHG selection and training management.
- Outlay: Rs 1,261 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26
- Target: 15,000 Women SHGs to receive drones
- CFA: 80% of drone package cost, up to Rs 8 lakh per SHG
- Training: 15-day drone pilot certification for one SHG member + 5-day assistant training for another member/family member
- Implementing partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development (DAY-NRLM), Lead Fertilizer Companies
- Minimum income target: At least Rs 1 lakh additional income per SHG per year through drone rental services
- Services provided: Aerial spraying of nano-urea, pesticides, and other agrochemicals — reducing manual labour and input costs for farmers
Connection to this news: Karnataka's top ranking reflects both its advanced SHG ecosystem (through Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Mission) and the state government's proactive coordination with central scheme implementation machinery.
Self-Help Groups and the DAY-NRLM Framework
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is the flagship poverty alleviation programme that organises rural women into Self-Help Groups of 10-20 members, federates them at the village, cluster, and district levels, and provides access to bank credit, livelihood training, and government scheme benefits. Launched in 2011 (replacing Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana), DAY-NRLM has mobilised over 10 crore women into SHGs across India, with Karnataka's Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Mission (KSRLM) being one of the stronger state implementations. The SHG network is the primary delivery vehicle for Namo Drone Didi, as SHGs provide an existing trained collective with banking access and group accountability.
- DAY-NRLM launched: 2011, under Ministry of Rural Development
- Total SHGs mobilised nationally: Over 1 crore (10 million) groups covering 10+ crore women as of 2025
- Bank linkage: SHGs have access to revolving funds and bank credit — essential for drone financing
- Lakhpati Didi scheme (2024): Aims to make 3 crore SHG women "lakhpatis" (earning Rs 1 lakh+ annually) — Namo Drone Didi is one of the pathway schemes
- Karnataka's KSRLM: Known for strong SHG formation and federation capacity; the state has historically been a high-performer in SHG bank linkage
- Drone Didi = convergence of Namo Drone Didi + Lakhpati Didi + DAY-NRLM — a multi-ministry integration model
Connection to this news: Karnataka's top position under Namo Drone Didi is in part a reflection of the maturity of its SHG ecosystem — a prerequisite for deploying high-value agricultural equipment through community groups.
Drone Technology in Agriculture — Policy and Potential
The introduction of drone technology in Indian agriculture is part of the broader Digital Agriculture Mission and the government's push to increase farm productivity while reducing input costs and drudgery. Drone-based aerial application of nano-urea, pesticides, and fertilisers offers advantages over conventional methods: reduced chemical usage (by up to 30%), faster application across larger areas, and precision targeting that minimises crop damage and soil compaction. The Drone Rules, 2021 and the liberalised PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme for drones (2021-22) created the regulatory and manufacturing foundation. Agricultural drone operations are governed by the Digital Sky platform under the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).
- Drone Rules, 2021: Deregulated most drone operations; replaced the older Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021
- PLI for Drones: Rs 120 crore scheme to incentivise domestic drone manufacturing
- Nano-urea: Developed by IFFCO; drone application improves foliar uptake and reduces soil loading
- Green Zone (agriculture): Drones permitted without permissions in designated agricultural green zones under DGCA's Digital Sky platform
- DGCA Drone Pilot Certificate: 15-day certified training — same as required under Namo Drone Didi
- Agricultural drones eligible for DPIIT startup and NABARD linkage financing
Connection to this news: Karnataka's achievement under Namo Drone Didi is also a proof-of-concept for scaling precision agriculture technologies through community-owned business models, with implications for national food security and farm income targets.
Key Facts & Data
- Scheme: Namo Drone Didi (formally: Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to Women SHGs)
- Ministry: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare + Rural Development (DAY-NRLM)
- Approved outlay: Rs 1,261 crore (2023-24 to 2025-26)
- Target: 15,000 Women SHGs to receive drones
- CFA: 80% of drone package cost, maximum Rs 8 lakh per SHG
- Pilot training: 15 days (certified drone pilot) + 5 days (assistant training)
- Expected additional income per SHG per year: Minimum Rs 1 lakh through drone rental to farmers
- Drones distributed by Lead Fertilizer Companies: 500 under the scheme (as of early 2026)
- Karnataka ranking: Top-performing state in implementation
- Karnataka state SHG body: Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Mission (KSRLM) under DAY-NRLM
- Convergence: Namo Drone Didi is a pathway scheme under the Lakhpati Didi initiative
- DGCA training requirement: 15-day certification — aligned with scheme's pilot training structure