KARNATAKA
Karnataka Leads in Training Women Drone Pilots Under Namo Drone Didi Yojana
- 08 Apr 2026
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Karnataka has emerged as the leading state in training women Self‑Help Group (SHG) members as drone pilots under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana.
Key Points
- Scheme: The Namo Drone Didi Yojana is a central sector initiative to empower women‑led SHGs by providing training and access to agricultural drone technology.
- Karnataka has trained the highest number of women SHG members as drone pilots under this scheme.
- The scheme is implemented jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Department of Rural Development, and Department of Fertilisers.
- Implementation: The scheme operates under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY‑NRLM) and promotes precision farming through drone technology.
- The DAY-NRLM program is executed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Agricultural Services: Trained SHGs can provide drone rental services to farmers, especially for spraying fertilisers and pesticides, improving efficiency and reducing labour.
- Targets: The government aims to distribute around 15,000 drones to women SHGs during 2024–25 and 2025–26.
- Financial Assistance: Central financial aid covers 80% of the drone cost up to ₹8 lakh, while the remaining 20% can be financed through loans with interest subvention.
- Training Programme: Each SHG member undergoes a 15‑day training programme that includes mandatory drone pilot certification and specialised agricultural applications.
| Read More: Self‑Help Group (SHG), DAY‑NRLM, Namo Drone Didi Yojana |
