India's drone economy will unlock up to $23 billion of latent manufacturing by 2030, as stratospheric demand for drones across industries from defence to agri-logistics, supply chain, and infrastructure propels growth, reveals a new report published by Nexgen Exhibitions.
According to a study of 150 drone manufacturers in 15 cities in India, the report cites a rapid rise in the deployment of drones after India's Operation Sindoor, a watershed event of India's tactical use of drones for anti-terrorism missions. "Drones have become the center of modern-day warfare, and India's aggressive deployment during Operation Sindoor is an indicator of things to come," said the report.
Although defence is a major driving force, 40% said that agriculture—precision agriculture in this case—would be the most likely industry to be the biggest user of drones by 2030. The market for agricultural drones globally will grow to $5.89 billion by the end of the decade.
Nexgen Exhibitions Director Aadhar Bansal referred to the contribution of indigenous innovation towards growth in India's drone industry. "Indigenous drones will be propelling national prosperity across sectors and enhancing the Make in India program," Bansal said.
To further enhance the industry, Delhi will also be organizing the Drone International Expo 2025 on July 31-August 1. It has been planned by Nexgen with more than 50 manufacturers of drones and exhibitors from six countries, namely Russia, Taiwan, Canada, Ukraine, and India.
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The survey also determined that 20% of the companies expect drones to revolutionize rural India through smart agriculture, with 15% opting for logistics and infrastructure as top growth sectors. Aside from precision agriculture, drones are also being more widely employed for crop surveillance, anti-theft patrolling, and wildlife deterrent uses, telling volumes about their widening applications across sectors.
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