The central government has allowed the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to use drones. This permission is granted based on various conditions. Under this permission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will use drones to collect remote sensing data in agricultural areas of 100 districts of the country.
This data will be collected at village panchayat level for yield estimation under Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme (PMFBY). However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation have given conditional exemption to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, for use of Remotely Operated Aircraft System (RAPS).
Terms and Conditions of Use
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure that an experienced trained personnel will conduct RPAS as per the approved SOP.
The Ministry will also ensure that personnel operating remote aircraft are trained through approved FTOs, RPTOs.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure the RPAS in working condition and take care as per the approved SOP and will be responsible for any accidental disturbances and problems arising from equipment malfunctions. He will also keep records of each RPA flight and make such records available to DGCA on demand.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will seek necessary permission from the Directorate General of Regulation and Information, DGCA or Ministry of Defense (as applicable) for photography from aircraft.
Photos and videos taken through RPAS will be used only by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will be responsible for the security of data collected through RPAS and RPAS.
RPAS will operate for the day (sunrise to sunset). The operation will take place inside the Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) in uncontrolled airspace and the height from AGI will be 200 feet (AGL) maximum.
RPAS will not operate in the areas around the airport as per the provisions of CAR. Approval from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the concerned airport / airfield operator regarding the time and area of operation required for the necessary operations around the airport.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure that nothing is dropped during the flight of RPAS. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure that under no circumstances will RPA carry hazardous material or heavy weight items.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure that no unrelated person will be allowed to operate area (including ground station) during RPAS operations and ensure that the safety conditions given in the SOP / RPAS Flight Manual are followed.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure the safety and privacy of people, property, operators etc.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure that no person or property will be flown to endanger. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will be responsible for medico-legal matters in case of injury to a person due to physical contact with the equipment. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will ensure the insurance policy validity so that the third party is provided with a protective cover in the event of accidental loss.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare shall not conduct RPAS without the approval of the Ministry / Officers in the no fly zone given in Para 13.1, Series-X Part-1 of CAR Section Three.
In any legal matter or other matter due to these operations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will protect the DGCA.
This paper will not violate the restrictions imposed by government agencies and other laws regarding remotely operated aircraft systems.
In case of accident at any stage of operation, the report will be submitted to DGCA’s Directorate General of Air Safety with full details.
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