Can you import drones into India? The DGFT ban, its exceptions and the Drone Rules in 2026

For most businesses, no. DGFT Notification No. 54/2015-2020 of 9 February 2022 rewrote Policy Condition 3 of Chapter 88 of the import schedule. Import of drones in completely-built-up (CBU), semi-knocked-down (SKD) or completely-knocked-down (CKD) form is now Prohibited, with immediate effect^[1].

There are only two ways in^[1]:

1. Named importers for R&D. Government entities, educational institutions recognised by the central or a state government, government-recognised R&D entities, and drone manufacturers importing for R&D.
2. Defence and security purposes.

In both cases you need an import authorisation from DGFT, issued in consultation with the line ministries concerned^[1]. A trader, e-commerce seller or distributor importing drones for resale fits neither route.

What stays open: drone components are 'Free' to import^[1]. That is why most of India's drone trade now runs through local assembly and Indian-made drones, not imported finished units.

If you are one of the permitted importers, or you build drones in India from imported parts, the rest of this page covers what comes next: the Drone Rules, 2021^[2], Digital Sky registration, type certificates, WPC radio approval, and the EPR and labelling rules that apply to any battery-powered electronic product.

Not sure whether your shipment is a drone or parts? Run it through the approval checker or ask us for a free compliance check.

Read the first row first. If the DGFT prohibition stops you, nothing else on this list matters for imports. Official government fees only; testing, QCI and consultant charges are not government fees.

Unmanned aircraft sit under ITC(HS) heading 8806. The heading is split by maximum take-off weight: 88062100 for remote-controlled drones up to 250 g, 88062200 for more than 250 g up to 7 kg, 88062300 for 7 to 25 kg, 88062400 for 25 to 150 kg and 88062900 for heavier ones, with parallel 880691 to 880699 lines for other unmanned aircraft. Every 8806 line carries the same entry: Prohibited, subject to Policy Condition 3 of Chapter 88^[1]. A small toy-sized drone is not treated more kindly under the import schedule than a heavy one.

That is a change from the old rule. Before February 2022, drone imports were 'Restricted' and needed prior DGCA clearance plus a DGFT licence, and nano drones up to 250 g flying below 50 ft needed only a WPC Equipment Type Approval, with no DGCA clearance or DGFT licence^[1]. Guides written before 2022 that tell you a sub-250 g drone only needs an ETA describe a policy that no longer exists.

The DGFT weight bands are not the Drone Rules classes. The Drone Rules classify by all-up weight including payload: nano up to 250 g, micro above 250 g up to 2 kg, small 2 to 25 kg, medium 25 to 150 kg, large above 150 kg^[3]. Use the HS bands for customs and the Drone Rules classes for flying.

Borderline cases:

The notification does not define 'components'. A box of parts that together make one complete drone looks like a CKD drone, which is prohibited. If you import parts, buy and ship them as parts for assembly, and keep your bill of materials and assembly records. Confirm the classification with your customs broker before the goods ship.

This is the order for an entity that qualifies under one of the exceptions. If you do not qualify, only the components route is open.

The ban is a change to the import policy, not a separate law. DGFT Notification 54 of 9 February 2022 replaced Policy Condition 3 of Chapter 88 of ITC(HS) 2022^[1]. The Drone Rules themselves leave imports to DGFT: rule 11 says import of unmanned aircraft systems is regulated by DGFT or another entity the Central Government authorises^[3].

What the exception actually says. Government entities, recognised educational institutions, government-recognised R&D entities and drone manufacturers can import for R&D. Separately, imports for defence and security purposes are allowed. Both routes need a DGFT import authorisation issued in consultation with the concerned line ministries^[1]. There is no route for commercial resale, hobby use, photography services or marketplace selling.

Has it changed since 2022? We checked for later DGFT notifications amending Chapter 88 Policy Condition 3 and found none. The draft Civil Drone Bill, 2025 keeps import under DGFT and adds a power for the Central Government to prohibit imports by order^[18]. So nothing in the pipeline points to the ban loosening. Before you place an order, search the latest ITC(HS) Schedule I on the DGFT site for heading 8806.

Components stay Free. Policy Condition 3 says import of drone components is 'Free'^[1]. Indian drone makers use this to import motors, cameras, batteries and electronics. If you are one of them, the finished drone you build here is an Indian-made drone and the Drone Rules apply to it in the same way.

Only the importers named in Policy Condition 3, and only with a DGFT import authorisation. Everyone else can import components, which are Free, and assemble in India. This matrix sets out the usual cases; apply for authorisations on the DGFT portal with your IEC.

Because complete drones cannot be imported for sale while components can, and the government pays an incentive for local manufacture. The Production-Linked Incentive scheme for drones and drone components was notified on 30 September 2021 with Rs 120 crore over three financial years; a provisional list of 23 beneficiaries, 12 drone makers and 11 component makers, was released on 6 July 2022, and the scheme asks for value addition of at least 40% of net sales^[19].

For an importer this means two things. First, the legal way into the Indian drone market is to buy from an Indian maker or to become one, importing components^[1]. Second, Indian makers need a type certificate before their drones can be flown commercially^[3], so ask a supplier for the certificate number before you buy for resale.

The Drone Rules, 2021 were notified as G.S.R. 589(E) on 25 August 2021 under the Aircraft Act, 1934^[2]. They govern who may operate a drone and how. The main points for an importer or maker:

• Type certificate. No one may operate a drone unless it conforms to a type certificate or is exempt. A type certificate is not needed to manufacture or import a drone, and not needed to operate a model aircraft or a nano drone^[3]. You apply in Form D-1 on Digital Sky; the prototype goes to the Quality Council of India or an authorised testing entity, which reports within sixty days, and DGCA issues the certificate within fifteen days of the report^[3].
• Registration and UIN. Every drone must be registered on Digital Sky and given a Unique Identification Number before it flies, in Form D-2, quoting the type certificate number. The UIN is tied to the serial numbers of the drone, its flight control module and its remote pilot station; replacing either must be updated within seven days or before the next flight, whichever is earlier^[3].
• Remote Pilot Certificate. The 2022 amendment replaced the remote pilot licence with a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by an authorised remote pilot training organisation^[6]. Nano drones, and micro drones flown for non-commercial purposes, need no pilot certificate^[3].
• Airspace. Digital Sky carries an airspace map with red, yellow and green zones that operators must check before every flight^[3].
• Insurance. Third-party insurance follows the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, but nano drones may fly without it^[3].
• 2023 change. Form D-4 applicants can now use any government-issued identity and address proof instead of only a passport^[20].

A drone talks to its controller and usually streams video over radio, so it is wireless equipment. WPC's ETA covers wireless devices in de-licensed bands or involving RF transmission^[4].

Most consumer wireless products get their ETA by self-declaration on Saral Sanchar, for Rs 10,000 per model, downloaded on submission^[4][21]. Drones are one of four exceptions. WPC allows self-declaration for all products in de-licensed bands except radar, jamming devices, drones and satellite equipment^[4]. So a drone's ETA is not a click-and-download job. DoT's ETA FAQ says that for products not exempt under DGFT import policy, such as drones, the ETA is still issued by the WPC Wing's Regional Licensing Offices through the routine online procedure, not by self-declaration^[22]. The FAQ does not give that route's fee or timeline, so contact the WPC Wing before you import. The ETA document list and ETA fees pages describe the self-declaration route for comparison.

The ETA is only about RF compliance. WPC says ETA holders must get any clearance needed from DGFT themselves^[21], so an ETA does not override the import ban. Note also that DoT is moving its licences to the Telecommunications Act, 2023 portal^[23]. For how ETA and telecom certification differ, see WPC ETA vs MTCTE and the Saral Sanchar portal guide.

BIS CRS: no drone category. BIS's list of 66 Electronics and IT goods under the Compulsory Registration Scheme does not name drones^[5]. The list does include Video Camera and Digital Camera^[24], so a standalone camera module you sell separately is a different question from the drone itself. Chargers sold with a drone may fall under the CRS power adaptor categories; ask your lab.

TEC MTCTE: not notified. Drones are not in TEC's notified MTCTE product list^[7]. See the MTCTE product list.

If your drone carries a cellular module or SIM, that part brings its own questions: SIMs and eSIMs are a Phase-4 MTCTE product^[7].

Battery EPR applies. Drones run on lithium battery packs. CPCB treats importers of batteries and of equipment containing batteries as producers who must register before importing^[8]. The registration fee runs from Rs 10,000 for turnover under Rs 5 crore^[9]. Spare batteries imported on their own count too. CPCB has asked Customs to check battery EPR registration when clearing such goods^[25].

Plastic EPR applies if the drone arrives in plastic packaging, foam or film. Importers of commodities with plastic packaging are 'importers' under the plastic rules^[11], with a Rs 10,000 application fee below 1,000 tonnes a year^[13].

E-waste EPR is unclear. Schedule I of the E-Waste Rules, 2022 does not name drones; coverage depends on generic entries and on whether the parts are treated as components^[14]. Get a written view from CPCB or an EPR consultant if you sell in volume.

• Legal Metrology declarations on retail packs: name and address of the importer, country of origin, generic name, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP and consumer care details^[26]. Consumer care must include a phone number and e-mail^[16].
• Battery marks: the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol on the battery^[27] and your battery EPR registration number. For imported batteries, putting the EPR number on the equipment or its packaging is accepted^[28].
• Plastic packaging: the producer or brand owner's name and registration number^[29].
• UIN on the drone itself comes from Digital Sky registration, which is linked to the manufacturer's serial number^[3]. Make sure each unit has a clear serial number on the airframe, flight controller and remote.

There is no BIS Standard Mark or TEC label for a drone, because neither scheme lists it^[5].

Use this list for drones assembled in India or imported under an exception. The label checker and the product label checklist cover the Legal Metrology side.

For a permitted importer (say a recognised university R&D lab), the official fees are small. The real costs are the DGFT process, QCI testing for a type certificate, and lab work for the radio.

That is about Rs 20,800 in listed government fees before testing, consultants, training and EPR certificates. QCI, testing entities and training organisations may charge market-linked fees on top^[3]. EPR registration is a business-level cost, shared across all the products you import.

For a permitted R&D importer, Rs 20,800 in listed fees for one drone and Rs 21,000 for three, by our arithmetic, because the EPR and LMPC registrations are paid once and the per-drone fees are Rs 100 each. Testing, QCI charges and the DGFT process cost far more than these fees. Use the compliance cost estimator for the EPR side.

The DGFT authorisation has no published clock, so plan for it first. The Drone Rules do set clocks for the type certificate.

1. An Amazon seller wants to import camera drones from China to resell. Not possible. Complete drones are Prohibited, and resale is not one of the exceptions^[1]. The legal alternatives are buying from Indian drone makers or distributors, or setting up genuine local assembly using imported components, which are Free^[1]. If you sell Indian-made drones, you still need battery EPR as a brand owner or importer of batteries^[10] and LMPC declarations on the pack.

2. An IIT lab wants three research drones from Europe. A recognised educational institution can import for R&D with a DGFT import authorisation^[1]. No type certificate is needed to import^[3], but to fly outside exemptions the drones need a type certificate or must be nano/model, plus a UIN on Digital Sky^[3]. Self-declaration ETA is not available, so speak to WPC about the radio first^[4].

3. An Indian startup assembles agricultural drones from imported motors and batteries. Components clear as Free^[1]. The startup is the manufacturer, so it applies for a type certificate through QCI^[3], registers for battery EPR as an importer of batteries^[8], and its buyers register each drone for a UIN. If it ships parts that together make a whole drone in one box, Customs may see that as a CKD drone, which is prohibited^[1].

The importer answers for the DGFT route and EPR, the manufacturer for the type certificate, and the operator for the UIN, pilot certificate and airspace checks.

• "Under 250 g is fine with just an ETA." That was the pre-2022 rule^[1]; 88062100 is now Prohibited like the rest^[1].
• "An ETA lets me import." WPC says DGFT clearance is the holder's own job^[21].
• "No type certificate means I can't import." Importing needs none; flying does^[3].
• "Ship it as parts." A box that makes a whole drone is a CKD drone^[1].
• "Drones need BIS." No CRS category exists^[5], though a charger may: see mobile chargers.

• Declared as 'toy' or 'parts' but is a complete drone. All 8806 lines are prohibited^[1], and a kit that forms a complete drone is SKD/CKD^[1].
• No DGFT authorisation for an exempt importer. The exception only works with the authorisation^[1].
• Relying on an old nano-drone rule. The pre-2022 ETA-only route for drones under 250 g is gone^[1].
• No battery EPR registration. Customs has been asked to check it^[25].
• Assuming an ETA clears the drone. WPC says the ETA is for RF only and DGFT compliance is the holder's job^[21].

For general holds at Indian ports, see why shipments get held.

Under the Drone Rules, DGCA or an authorised officer can levy a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh for contravening the rules, after a hearing, under section 10A of the Aircraft Act^[3].

Under import law, the import policy simply has no route for a prohibited drone without the DGFT authorisation^[1]. Do not plan on paying a fine to release one; talk to your customs broker before anything ships.

Under EPR, CPCB can levy environmental compensation on unregistered producers^[14], and Legal Metrology package offences carry an improvement notice for a first offence and penalties after that^[30].

In September 2025 the Ministry of Civil Aviation published the draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025 for comments by 30 September 2025. It would cover unmanned aircraft under 500 kg, keep imports under DGFT with a power to prohibit them, and repeal the Drone Rules, 2021 and their 2022 and 2023 amendments once new rules are made^[18]. Law-firm commentary in June 2026 reportedly still described it as a draft, and we found no report of it reaching Parliament^[31]. Until it passes and new rules are notified, the Drone Rules, 2021 and the 2022 DGFT ban are the law. Track changes on our 2026 rules ledger.

No change to the ban has been notified; the draft Civil Drone Bill, 2025 would keep imports under DGFT with a power to prohibit^[18] and was reportedly still a draft in mid-2026^[31]. Two DoT changes affect the radio side: Telegraph Act applications have stopped and authorisations moved to the Telecommunications Act portal^[23]. Follow the 2026 rules ledger.

• DGFT and customs: the DGFT portal guide and customs clearance documents.
• Radio approval: a WPC consultant can help with the RLO route.
• Batteries: see lithium-ion battery packs for importing spare packs.
• Sourcing parts from China: importing from China.
• Marketplace sellers: selling on Amazon covers documents for Indian-made drones.
• A second opinion: free compliance check.