Director General of DGCA Inaugurates MS Dhoni Backed Startup Garuda Aerospace Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility

Following the successful launch of its defence drone facility, Garuda Aerospace hosted Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), for the inauguration of its new Drone Battery Manufacturing Facility in Chennai, on January 7, 2026. This landmark occasion underscores Garuda Aerospace’s commitment to strengthening India’s indigenous and self-reliant drone ecosystem. Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai also highlighted the growing collaboration between India’s civil aviation regulator and the country’s rapidly evolving drone industry. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Bharat Drone Udaan event associated with the Bharat Drone Association at Garuda Aerospace Ltd Operation Centre.

During the ceremony, Shri Faiz Kidwai officially inaugurated the new Academic Block at Garuda Aerospace’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO). The expanded academic infrastructure is aimed at enhancing training capacity, strengthening curriculum delivery, and meeting the rising demand for certified drone pilots across key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, defence, disaster management, and logistics. The Director General also unveiled the ‘Garuda Bharat Drone Udaan Impact Book,’ highlighting Garuda Aerospace’s journey, key milestones, and contributions to the evolution of Make in India drone technology. The book further showcases the impact of drone technology across rural and industrial India and reflects the company’s focus on responsible drone adoption, ecosystem building, and inclusive growth.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Director, Garuda Aerospace, said, “Over the last 10 years, Garuda Aerospace has been in agriculture technology and has evolved into India’s largest drone company, having manufactured over 3,000 drones and trained more than 2,500 drone pilots. We were the first company to be approved by the DGCA for both drone manufacturing and training, and the first drone company whose clients received the first-ever AIF drone loan. It is heartening to see the practical impact of progressive government initiatives and policies coming to fruition, including schemes where women’s self-help groups were provided agricultural drones to enhance livelihoods, the SMAM drone subsidy scheme, and the Production Linked Incentive for boosting indigenous manufacturing. Our progress would not have been possible without the regulatory support and guidance of the DGCA, the Ministry, and officials who have supported the ecosystem. We remain committed to local manufacturing, following DGCA regulations, and working towards making India a global drone hub.”

Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) addressed, “It is a pleasure to visit the Garuda Aerospace manufacturing facility. The range of drones being produced here is not only beneficial to our armed forces, but also to farmers and industry, and is being used across multiple applications. Very few companies I have seen so far manufacture such a wide range of drones. Garuda Aerospace is taking indigenisation to the next level by producing critical components, assembling, and manufacturing them within the country. The students here, once they obtain their licenses and become certified RPTOs, will have a significant role to play in ensuring the growth of this industry, as drone applications are expected to expand exponentially.”

The drone battery manufacturing facility and the new impact book together mark a significant step in Garuda Aerospace’s mission to create an end-to-end, self-reliant drone ecosystem spanning manufacturing, training, and deployment to support India’s growing drone economy