Govt. allows ICRISAT to use drones for agricultural research

Context: The government has allowed Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) to use drones for agricultural research activities.

• Granting the institute a “conditional” exemption from some of the rules applicable for deployment of drones, the institute can gather data for agricultural research activities within the ICRISAT research field using remotely piloted aircraft systems or drones.
• The exemption is valid for six months from the date of issuance of permission or until the full operationalisation of Digital Sky Platform (Phase-1), whichever is earlier.
• “Drones are poised to play a big role in the agriculture sector in India especially in areas like precision agriculture, locust control and improvement in crop yield.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/govt-allows-icrisat-to-use-drones-for-agricultural-research/article33107902.ece?homepage=true