
Gujarat rolls out electronics policy to xraw investment of Rs 35,000 crore
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In a bid to attract attract industries and boost production of electronic components in the state, Gujarat rolled out he Gujarat Electronics Component Manufacturing Policy-2025 ( GECMS-2025 ).The police targets to garner over ₹35,000 crore in New Investments and high-skilled employment generation in Gujarat's electronics component manufacturing sector.According to the state government, under this new policy, projects approved and supported by the MeitY, Government of India, will be eligible for 100% central assistance when established in Gujarat. Hence, MeitY-approved projects set up in the state will receive dual incentive benefits, one from the Central government and another from the state government.Aligned with the Central Government's Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Gujarat's GECMS-2025 ensures a 100% top-up on central support and guarantees timely disbursement of assistance.Also, once a project receives approval under the ECMS from MeitY, it will automatically become eligible for the same grant-in-aid in Gujarat. The state government will disburse its incentive within 30 days of the Central government releasing its assistance.The policy will boost investment in key segments such as multi-layer and HDI printed circuit boards, lithium-ion cells, SMD passive components, display and camera modules, electronic parts, and the additional required machinery essential for their production. A core focus of the policy is to bridge the talent gap, promote innovation and offer support for Research and development initiatives. Recognised institutions based in Gujarat will be eligible for assistance of up to ₹12.5 crore from the state government to establish centres of excellence, finishing schools, or applied research laboratories.
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United States of America Under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Local and state law enforcement agencies are empowered to detain drones, question operators, and initiate enforcement actions. 2. United Kingdom Following the 2018 Gatwick Airport drone disruption, the UK amended the Air Navigation Order 2016 and the Police Act to empower law enforcement with the authority to land, seize, and inspect drones. It provides the police with powers to issue on-the-spot fines up to £1,000 for registration and permission breaches. 3. France France enforces strict drone regulations under the Code de l'Aviation Civile (Civil Aviation Code) 1958. Under the code, Municipal police are empowered to inspect drones and question operators. In Paris, drone surveillance and enforcement are handled jointly by Police and Directorate General of Civil Aviation. 4. Germany Germany's Luftverkehrs-Ordnung (Air Traffic Regulation) 1964 empowers State Police to detain unlicensed drones and initiate proceedings under aviation safety and privacy laws. 5. Australia Under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) 1998, Australia empowers State and Territory Police to enforce no-fly zones, register violations, and confiscate rogue drones. V. Existing Legal Framework: Aircraft Act 1934 & Drone Rules 2021 Drones are Unmanned Arial Vehicles which is a type of Unmanned Aircraft System that falls under the ambit of Aircraft as per section 2(1) of the Aircraft Act 1934. Drones are thus governed by The Aircraft Act, 1934 and The Drones Rules, 2021. Under the Aircraft Act, 1934, the Central Government is empowered to regulate the manufacture, possession, operation, and safety of aircraft. The Drone Rules, 2021, notified under this Act, introduced a streamlined framework for drone classification, registration, pilot certification, and operation permissions. In case of any violations of Drone Rules, Rule no. 50 of Drone Rules 2021 states levying penalty up to Rs 1 lakh by the DGCA or any other authority authorized by central government in accordance with provisions of section 10A of Aircraft Act which mentions about adjudication of penalties. As far as cognizance of offence is concerned, as per section 12B of the Aircraft Act, no courts can take cognizance without a complaint made by Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (DGBCAS) or Director General of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (DGAIIB). This clearly shows that state police have no statutory authority to register a FIR in case of violation of the Drone Rules under The Aircraft Act. Suggested Legislative Amendments The need to empower State Police and law enforcement agencies to act against unauthorized drone activity cannot be realized without clear statutory backing. While current law i.e. The Aircraft Act 1934 centralize enforcement under DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, they lack a federalist structure for operational enforcement. The following suggested amendments aim to create an enabling legislative framework: 1. Insertion of a new sub section under section 12 of The Aircraft Act 1934 Since Section 12 (B) of the Act clearly mandates prior sanction for any cognizance to be taken against unauthorized Drones by DGCA or DGBCAS or DGAAIB, it gives no autonomous authority to state police/state enforcement agencies for acting against offences committed by unmanned aerial vehicles endangering public safety. Therefore Section 12 can be enhanced with a new sub section – 'c' providing for autonomous powers and rights to the local police to address unauthorized arial activities. The new sub section may include the following to ensure strict implementation of Drone Rules: (a) Any police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector shall have the authority to: * Intercept, search, and seize any unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and associated devices, including drones, found operating in contravention of this Act or any rules made thereunder. * Require any drone operator to produce a valid Unique Identification Number (UIN), flight authorization, remote pilot license, and other necessary permits. (b) State Police shall have the jurisdiction to register FIR against anyone responsible for violating drone rules, conduct investigations, and initiate legal proceedings as per the procedure established by law for offences punishable under the Aircraft Act 1934 and Drone Rules 2021 without mandatory requirement of complaint made by DGCA, DGBCAS or DGAAIB. Justification: This provision will create statutory recognition of police powers and ensures lawful drone seizure, investigation, and prosecution without requiring prior approval from central authorities—essential for time-sensitive security interventions. 2. Insertion of a new clause under sub section 5(2) of The Aircraft Act 1934 An amendment can be made under section 5(2) of The Aircraft Act by adding a new clause 'r' making central government duty bound to provide for rules regarding localized scheme of enforcement prescribing the powers, functions, responsibilities, and standard operating procedures for enforcement of drone-related laws by State Governments and their police. Justification: At present, no delegated legislation exists to support drone law enforcement by States. This amendment provides the statutory hook for the Centre to issue rules that support decentralized implementation. A written standard operating procedure for States will also rule out all sorts of ambiguity amongst police of different states with respect to addressing drone rules violations. 3. Purpose of arial activity should be intimated To curb Drone missuses, the Drone Rules 2021 should be amended requiring operators to pre-register the purpose of their arial activity on the Digital Sky platform, with full access granted to police. This will help address security and individual's privacy concerns. For operationalizing the proposed legislative framework, a structured, multi-phase roadmap must be adopted. The implementation plan must account for legal preparedness, inter-agency coordination, infrastructure, and technical capacity-building at the State level. VII. Conclusion As India's airspace becomes increasingly populated with drones, it is imperative that enforcement should be decentralized. While the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation remain the principal regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies particularly police being the first responder to any adversary must be empowered to register a criminal case autonomously against unauthorized or dangerous drone operations protecting mankind and infrsastructure. Empowering State Police through clear legislative amendments will bridge the existing enforcement vacuum, enhance national security and urban safety, create accountability at both operational and regulatory levels. Therefore it's need of the hour that India must adopt a dual-layer enforcement model comprising of central regulation with decentralized enforcement mirroring global best practices to ensure persistent security. (Writer is a lawyer practising in Supreme Court of India, Allahabad High Court & tribunals) Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!