India, Jan. 30 -- Drones in India have come a long way, from once a heavily restricted technology to a thriving industry, where startups are driving innovation and meeting both domestic and global demand.

Once limited to military use, drones now play a crucial role across diverse sectors, from agriculture and healthcare to border surveillance, disaster management, traffic control, and logistics.

Policy reforms, including the Drone Rules 2021 and its subsequent amendments, are enabling these startups to innovate and expand applications in both government, civilian and industrial sectors.

For instance, there are broader industry schemes like PLI schemes that support drone manufacturing while targeted initiatives like Drone Shakti and Kis...