Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the country’s largest drone festival at Pragati Maidan in Delhi. After the 10 am inauguration, the PM plans to interact with Kisan drone pilots and startups at the Drone Exhibition Centre, a statement from the PMO said. He will also witness an open-air drone demonstration, it said.

As many as 1,600 delegates are expected to attend the two-day event, including government officials, diplomats, the armed forces, the CAPF, public agencies, private companies and drone startups. More than 70 exhibitors will be showcasing various use cases for drones at the show,” the statement said.

The festival coincides with the central government’s push for the widespread use of drones in various fields, including agriculture. The Ministry of Civil Aviation passed the Drone Regulations 2021 in August last year, ensuring the ease of use of drones.

Earlier this month, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia opened a drone experience studio at state-run think tank NITI Aayog. He unveiled two policies — Drone Shakti and Kisan Drone. The government says the studio aims to foster a collaborative ecosystem to foster innovation and the use of drones in public services.

Scindia said at the event that the cost of training courses for drone pilots would drop significantly as more agencies will receive the necessary certification from civil aviation regulators.