After liberalising Drone Rule in 2021, the union government has given a big boost to the drone industry in the current union budget. "Startups will be promoted to facilitate ‘Drone Shakti' through varied applications and for Drone-As-A-Service (DrAAS)," Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting her fourth budget. She added, "Use of ‘Kisan Drones' will be promoted for crop assessment, digitization of land records, spraying of insecticides, and nutrients."  

"Focus on and support for forward-looking technologies such as digital currency, 5G, EVs and use of drone technologies as laid out in the budget will help the country in its progress during the "Amrith Kaal," said Yezdi Nagporewalla, CEO Designate, KPMG in India. 

According to Amit Sinha, Co-Founder, Unnati "Budget has a strong focus on agriculture with a specific focus on the delivery of high tech services, funding of startups through NABARD, focus on "Drone Shakti" for farmers, and climate action. There is a good balance of the short term and long term measures.  It's very forward-looking with a long-reaching impact on how Agriculture will grow in India. These initiatives will solve the core problem of improvement of farm productivity and help improve farm incomes significantly." 

"GoI's announcements of promotion of drone-based intervention in pesticide spraying, digitisation of land records and crop assessment are steps towards mechanisation of farms and improvement in productivity," said Sabyasachi Majumdar, Senior Vice President & Group Head - Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited.  

According to Shivendra Singh, Founder and CEO, Barton Breeze, "Use of technologies for farmers like drones indicate 'forward-looking policy' thinking of the Government. This will help improve farmers' income and drive up consumption in the long term. The focus on AgriTech will help in the inclusion of new-age technology in the Agri sector in India."