WHAT?

1. The Namo Drone Didi scheme is a Central Sector initiative launched by the Government of India in November 2023 to empower rural women through drone technology in agriculture. 
2.  It aims to provide drones to 15,000 selected women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), enabling them to offer drone services like spraying fertilizers and pesticides to farmers on a rental basis. 
3.  The scheme includes training women (aged 18-50) as certified drone pilots, with a total outlay of ₹1,261 crore from 2024-25 to 2025-26. The scheme integrates women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) into the agricultural ecosystem by training them as drone pilots and entrepreneurs, providing access to drones for precision farming activities.
4. It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Lead Fertilizer Companies (IFFCO, KRIBHCO), and drone manufacturers.

Objectives of the Scheme

1. Women Empowerment: Train SHGs to become drone pilots and agri-tech entrepreneurs, ensuring financial independence. Foster economic self-reliance among women SHGs by creating new livelihood opportunities, potentially increasing their income through drone rental services. 
2. Modern Agriculture: Promote drones for spraying nano-fertilizers, pesticides, crop monitoring, soil analysis, and irrigation, reducing costs and labor. Promote the use of advanced drone technology for precision agriculture, reducing labor and improving efficiency in tasks like crop monitoring and input application. 
3. Sustainable Livelihoods: Enable SHGs to generate at least ₹1 lakh of additional annual income through drone rental services.
4. Financial Inclusion: Linked with schemes like Lakhpati Didi, aiming to help 3 crore women achieve ₹1 lakh+ annual income, building on the 2 crore already empowered.

Financial Structure

1. Total Outlay: ₹1,261 crore (2023–24 to 2025–26).
2. Subsidy: 80% subsidy (up to ₹8 lakh per drone package including batteries, accessories, and training).
3. Loan Component: Remaining 20% (up to ₹2 lakh) financed via low-interest loans (3%) under NRLM or banks.
4. Income Model: SHGs can rent drones to farmers at ₹500–₹1,000 per acre, targeting 200–300 acres annually per group.

Training and Skill Development

1. Selected SHG members undergo 15 days of DGCA-certified drone pilot training through RPTOs.
2. 5 days: Pilot training
3. 10 days: Nutrient/pest management and maintenance
4. Training costs are included in the drone package.
5. 1,094 drones distributed in 2023–24, including 500 directly under the scheme.
6. The remaining 14,500 drones are allocated to states for rollout by 2025–26.

Impact and Success Stories

1. A 2025 study by ADRTC, Bengaluru on the initial 500 drones shows SHGs adopting modern practices, improving productivity, and boosting incomes.
2. Women are now widely known as “Drone Didis”, leading awareness drives and providing rental services to farmers.
3. In Varanasi and Punjab, women pilots have reduced chemical usage and farming costs by 20–30% while earning lakhs annually.
4. The scheme has also inspired rural entrepreneurship, with women-led SHGs venturing into multi-crore enterprises and reducing import dependence in sectors like toy manufacturing.