Garuda Aerospace's agri drone facility launched in Chennai
The facility will serve as a centre for design, manufacturing, and testing of advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS). It will expand Garuda's existing operations and signal the government's growing emphasis on fostering domestic innovation and self-reliance in precision agriculture technologies.
The event, held in partnership with the Bharat Drone Association, also saw the launch of several initiatives intended to strengthen India's drone skills ecosystem. Chief among them was the introduction of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved 'Train the Trainer' programme, which is an intensive capacity-building initiative aimed at certifying instructors in drone operation, safety, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
In a symbolic demonstration of grassroots engagement and inclusivity, women drone pilots, 'Drone Didis', performed live demonstration on using drones for farming operations. The initiative is part of a government-backed programme to train rural women in drone handling. Speaking on the occasion, Paswan said the 'Drone Didi' scheme is a game-changer as it empowers rural women to become certified drone pilots, helping farmers spray fertilizers and monitor crops more efficiently.
He said 15,000 women have been trained and the aim is to increase that count to one lakh by 2026. Paswan also unveiled the plan to rollout 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in drone research and development. These centres are expected to become focal points for innovation, training, and public-private collaboration.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace, said the facility will manufacture 33 different parts and seven critical subsystems. 'This facility will play a vital role in reducing dependency on imports and boosting the domestic drone manufacturing ecosystem,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Transporters urge govt to simplify retro reflective tape purchase norms
Indore: Transporters' association has urged for simplifying the norms for fixing retro-reflective tape on commercial vehicles, alleging that the govt's plan to require reflective tape purchases exclusively from empanelled agencies will lead to a financial burden on transporters. In a letter to Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari , transporters acknowledged the necessity of reflective tape installation on commercial vehicles, but advocated for freedom in sourcing these material from any supplier of their choice. The transporters, under the impression that the purchase of reflective tapes would be allowed only from the empanelled agencies, said that no single company should be given the exclusive right to apply retro-reflective tape. Executive member of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and former president of Indore Truck Operators and Transport Association C L Mukati said, "We understand the importance of the retro-reflective tape, but unnecessarily complicating the norm by mandating the use of tape from only a selected company is unfair. It will also affect the interests of millions of truck operators and vehicle owners." The association said the transport department has set a deadline for July 30, 2025, for fixing the retro-reflective tape. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "There is no such norm of using the retro-reflective tape from a single agency. It can be from anywhere but not fake. It's a crucial safety feature and can significantly reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on roadways," said Indore regional transport officer Pradeep Sharma.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Himachal CM asks Centre to expedite matters pertaining to State's civil aviation sector
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) asked the Central government to expedite the execution of matters surrounding the State's civil aviation sector. In a letter to Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, the Chief Minister has urged the Ministry to recommend the proposed expansion of the airport in the State's Kangra to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister's Office for 'Special Central Assistance'. He also added that the techno-economic feasibility report of Kangra Airport should also be reviewed for arriving at a realistic assessment of cost by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) as it was on the higher side. Besides, Kangra Airport, which is the biggest and busiest airport in Himachal Pradesh, should be equipped with night landing facilities, he added. Mr. Sukhu also requested the Ministry to provide a second apron at Shimla airport suitable for operations of ATR 42/600 type of aircraft, which, he asserted, would go a long way in increasing the flight operations and support multiple flight operations from Shimla Airport. He also asked for resuming daily flight operations on the Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla sector by Alliance Air Ltd.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
CM: TN will top per capita income under DMK 2.0
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said the per capita income in Tamil Nadu has doubled under DMK govt, recording a sharp rise compared to the previous AIADMK govt. "We have crossed the national average in terms of per capita income," Stalin said in a social media post on Wednesday. "TN will become the number one state in per capita income under the upcoming Dravidian model govt 2.0," read a tweet by finance minister Thangam Thennarasu that Stalin reshared. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai According to Union govt's data cited by Thennarasu, the per capita income of TN in 2016 was 1.23lakh. It grew to 1.43lakh in 2021 at a rate of 4.42%. From 2021 to 2025, it rose from 1.43lakh to 1.96lakh, accounting for a growth rate of 8.15%, Thennarasu said. TN's per capita income was also higher compared to the country's per capita income. Comparing Tamil Nadu's per capita income growth with that of the nation, Stalin said the state, which holds the second slot below Karnataka, will become first when DMK forms govt in 2026. "This achievement reflects the success of the Dravidian model govt's visionary plans, industrial development, efforts to attract investments, and people's welfare schemes. This is the next crown for our Dravidian model govt, which is working with the principle of everything for all," said Thennarasu.
