Maharashtra government to set a task force for drone policy implementation

The Maharashtra government has announced the formation of a ministerial task force to implement the state's drone policy. This move aims to bolster the existing drone ecosystem and attract new investments to the industry. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the policy needs to support current drone companies while also attracting new investments.

The task force will be chaired by the Electronics, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Minister, Ashish Shelar. The decision came after conflicts in the policy's drafting and procedural delays, with industry stakeholders expressing concerns over a lack of competitive incentives compared to other states. The task force was established in a meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill, Mumbai, with Fadnavis urging for a "policy of policies" by consolidating provisions from existing state policies covering research and development (R&D).

The Maharashtra Automated Systems Policy 2026, approved two months ago, aims to attract ₹25,000 crore investment and generate over 1,00,000 jobs. Fadnavis instructed officials to accelerate the development of 'Drone City' in the Industrial City area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and consider a special incentive policy for the drone industry over the next two to three years.