Maharashtra to Form Ministerial Task Force to Implement State Drone Policy
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced the formation of a ministerial task force to oversee the implementation of the state’s drone policy during a meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill, Mumbai. The task force will be chaired by Ashish Shelar, the state minister for electronics, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
The task force has been tasked with ensuring the effective rollout of policy measures, raising awareness among entrepreneurs about government schemes, and facilitating the prompt resolution of operational challenges faced by drone manufacturers.
The announcement followed discussions with representatives of drone manufacturing companies convened to address stakeholder concerns. Industry representatives had raised issues regarding procedural delays, insufficient competitive incentives compared to other states, and alleged conflicts of interest in drafting the policy.
The meeting also came after BJP leader Dhananjay Mahadik submitted a letter urging the state government to pause the policy and investigate potential conflicts of interest involving consultants engaged in its drafting. Mahadik had expressed concerns that the draft could negatively impact local businesses, drone training operators, and women entrepreneurs.
During the meeting, Fadnavis called for a unified “policy of policies” for the drone sector, recommending the consolidation of existing provisions across research and development, indigenous component manufacturing, testing, patents, and financial incentives. He emphasised that the government must support companies already operating in Maharashtra while continuing efforts to attract fresh investments.
Fadnavis instructed officials to explore providing financial assistance to existing firms to cover testing costs until dedicated laboratories and testing facilities are fully operational. He assured industry representatives that the state would facilitate access to testing ranges, support patent expenses, and integrate benefits under central and state schemes.
Additionally, Fadnavis directed officials to accelerate the development of a planned drone city in the industrial area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. He suggested implementing a special incentive policy over the next two to three years to streamline land allotment through the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation for drone sector projects.
On June 16, the state government approved the Maharashtra Automated Systems Policy 2026, a five-year framework targeting ₹25,000 crore in investment and the creation of more than 100,000 jobs to position Maharashtra as a national hub for drones, robotics, and autonomous mobility.
