India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Drone Federation India (DFI), has launched the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) under the ‘SwaYaan – Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ initiative.
The challenge was formally inaugurated by Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, who emphasised the pivotal role of drones in transforming various sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, logistics, healthcare, and infrastructure and the need for taking the NIDAR programme to a larger scale to contribute to India’s vision of becoming a global drone hub by 2030.
NIDAR aims to inspire and engage India’s student and research communities to develop collaborative autonomous drones, addressing real-world challenges across two critical domains:
- Disaster Management (Scout and Deliver Drones): Identifying and assisting survivors in disaster-affected areas using autonomous drones for scouting, communication and parcel delivery.
- Precision Agriculture (Scan and Spray Drones): Enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture through targeted interventions like crop health monitoring and precise pesticide/nutrient delivery.
The competition will be conducted in multiple phases, including technology presentation, business case presentation, and final operations, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of students’ technical and entrepreneurial capabilities.
The challenge offers a total prize pool of INR 40 Lakhs along with opportunities for startup incubation, cloud credits, software support, and internships with Indian drone companies. Over 100 student teams from higher education institutions across the country are expected to participate, presenting innovative solutions aimed at addressing pressing challenges in agriculture and disaster response.
The initiative is part of the Government of India’s broader effort to enhance entrepreneurship in academia and encourage applied research in drone technology. The Drone Federation India (DFI), representing over 550 drone companies and 5500 drone pilots, will support participating students by providing mentorship and industry exposure.
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