The recently announced drone policy is a welcome step. It eliminates a host of approvals – the number of forms needing to be filled in is cut from 25 to five, and the number of fees to be paid to be able to operate drones from 72 to four. Commercial drones have huge economic implications. They also have a favourable ecological footprint. Powered by batteries, they are more environmentally friendly than delivery trucks. Traditionally, drones had been limited to military usage due to high costs and technological sophistication. Building drones for commercial use in India will take some effort, but the groundwork for that is now laid. Commercial drones will allow our industries to realize savings from cost-effective means of inventory, transportation and distribution. These cost savings can be passed on to consumers through price reductions, leading to lower inflationary pressures in the economy.
*Photo Credit: Google
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