Individual farmer, general category
40 percent of the drone cost, up to ₹4 lakh.
Agriculture drones
How to apply for an agriculture drone subsidy in India.
By the NVX engineering team, New Delhi · 2 November 2026 · 7 min read
Farmers, custom hiring centres and farmer producer organisations apply for a Kisan drone subsidy through their state agriculture department under the central Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), which funds 40 to 50 percent of a drone's cost for individuals, capped at ₹4 lakh or ₹5 lakh depending on your category. Women self-help groups get drones through the separate Namo Drone Didi scheme, which pays 80 percent up to ₹8 lakh but is routed through state rural livelihood missions, not individual applications. Here is which route fits you, the steps, and what to check before you sign with a vendor. Amounts come from Ministry of Agriculture releases; confirm the current rates with your state department before you apply.
Which subsidy route fits you
The central SMAM guidelines set different assistance for different applicants. These are the figures the Ministry of Agriculture gave Parliament; states may add their own top-ups.
Small and marginal, SC, ST, women and North Eastern state farmers
50 percent of the drone cost, up to ₹5 lakh.
Custom hiring centre (CHC) run by a cooperative, FPO or rural entrepreneur
40 percent, up to ₹4 lakh, to rent drone services to farmers.
CHC set up by an agriculture graduate
50 percent, up to ₹5 lakh per drone.
Farmer producer organisation (FPO) for demonstrations
Grants up to 75 percent of the drone cost for demonstrations on farmers' fields.
ICAR institutes, KVKs, state agricultural universities and government bodies
100 percent, up to ₹10 lakh per drone, for demonstrations. Not open to private buyers.
Women self-help groups under DAY-NRLM
Namo Drone Didi: 80 percent of the drone package cost, up to ₹8 lakh, with the balance available as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund at 3 percent interest subvention.
How to apply, step by step (farmers, CHCs and FPOs)
SMAM is implemented by the states, so the application goes to your state agriculture department. Many states take applications on the central Direct Benefit Transfer portal for farm mechanisation (agrimachinery.nic.in); others such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat use their own farmer portals. The sequence is the same.
1. Check the window
States open applications in rounds and often allot by lottery when demand is high; the DBT portal publishes state lottery dates. Ask your district or block agriculture officer when the next round opens and whether drones are included.
2. Register
Register as a farmer, entrepreneur or society. The DBT portal asks for your Aadhaar card (your name must match it), a mobile number for OTPs, your district, sub-district, block and village, land records, a passport-size photo, a bank passbook, another ID proof and, for SC, ST or OBC applicants, a caste certificate. Enter your category, farmer type and gender correctly: wrong details can get the application rejected at physical verification.
3. Choose a type-certified drone
Pick a model that holds a DGCA type certificate and a vendor registered with the scheme. Subsidy is approved against listed models and registered dealers, so check both before you commit.
4. Apply and upload documents
Submit the application for the drone, with identity, category (caste certificate if SC or ST, land record for small and marginal status) and bank documents. Keep the application number for tracking.
5. Wait for approval before buying
Do not pay a vendor on a promise of subsidy. Buy only after the state issues approval or a permit, and buy from the registered dealer named in it.
6. Purchase, verification, payment
Buy from the registered dealer, who uploads the bill on the portal, and allow physical verification by the department. The subsidy is then paid by direct benefit transfer, either to you or to the dealer, as recorded when the bill is uploaded; ask your dealer which applies before you pay.
7. Register and fly legally
Register the drone on Digital Sky for a UIN, and make sure the person flying holds a Remote Pilot Certificate from a DGCA-approved training organisation, which most spray drones over 2 kg require. Some states make the certificate a condition of the subsidy.
Namo Drone Didi: how the SHG route works
This central sector scheme, with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore, aims to place drones with about 15,000 women self-help groups and had distributed over a thousand drones by late 2025. It does not take applications from individuals.
Selection
State rural livelihood missions and agriculture departments select clusters and SHGs where there is demand for spraying services, aiming for 2,000 to 2,500 acres of work per drone a year.
Procurement
The lead fertiliser company for the state procures the drone package; ownership sits with the SHG or its cluster-level federation.
The package
A spray drone with spray assembly, spare battery sets and propellers, chargers, a one-year onsite warranty, one year of insurance, a two-year annual maintenance contract and GST.
Training
One SHG member gets 15 days of training that includes the drone pilot certificate; another is trained as the drone assistant for minor repairs and upkeep.
If you are in an SHG
Ask your cluster-level federation or block mission office whether your SHG can be put forward in the next selection.
Before you sign with a vendor
We repair and service spray drones from several makers, and the subsidised drones that struggle are the ones bought on price alone. Check these before you choose a model.
Type certificate and spares
Confirm the type certificate on Digital Sky and ask the vendor for the price and lead time of the parts that wear: nozzles, pump, batteries, propellers and arms.
Batteries decide your working day
A spray drone flies a few minutes per pack. Count how many battery sets and what charger come in the price; the Namo Drone Didi package includes four spare sets for a reason.
Service within reach
Ask where the nearest service point is and how a warranty claim works in your district. A drone idle in peak season loses the income the subsidy was meant to create.
Insurance and AMC
Crash and third-party insurance, and an annual maintenance contract, are worth asking for even when a scheme does not include them.
Running costs
Budget for the pilot's wages, battery replacement after a couple of seasons, transport and the approved pesticides and doses for drone spraying.
Beware guaranteed subsidy claims
No vendor can guarantee approval. Approval comes from the state, after application and often after a lottery.
FAQ
Agriculture Drone Subsidy Apply: common questions
How do I apply for a drone subsidy in India?
Apply through your state agriculture department under SMAM, usually on the farm mechanisation DBT portal or your state's own farmer portal: register with Aadhaar and bank details, choose a type-certified drone from a registered dealer, submit documents, wait for approval, buy, and receive the subsidy by direct benefit transfer after verification.
How do I get a drone on subsidy for agriculture use?
Individual farmers get 40 percent up to ₹4 lakh, or 50 percent up to ₹5 lakh if they are small or marginal, SC, ST, women or from a North Eastern state. Cooperatives, FPOs and rural entrepreneurs setting up a custom hiring centre get 40 percent up to ₹4 lakh, and agriculture graduates 50 percent up to ₹5 lakh. Check current rates with your state.
What is the 80 percent subsidy on agriculture drones in India?
That is Namo Drone Didi, a central sector scheme for women self-help groups under DAY-NRLM. It pays 80 percent of the drone package cost up to ₹8 lakh, with the balance available as a loan at 3 percent interest subvention. SHGs are selected by the states; individuals cannot apply.
What is the cost of a 25-litre agriculture spraying drone?
Prices vary by maker, tank size, battery count and what is bundled, so ask vendors for a written quote. Include batteries, training, insurance and service when you compare.
Is the drone subsidy paid before or after purchase?
After. The state approves the application first, you buy from the registered dealer, the department verifies the purchase, and the subsidy is credited to your Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
Do I need a licence to fly a subsidised agriculture drone?
Most spray drones weigh over 2 kg and need a registered UIN on Digital Sky and a pilot with a Remote Pilot Certificate from a DGCA-approved training organisation. Namo Drone Didi includes this training; individual buyers arrange it themselves. Confirm the latest rules on digitalsky.dgca.gov.in.
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Call +91 95609 21619, message us on WhatsApp, or visit us in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
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