Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India (under DAY-NRLM)
Namo Drone Didi Yojana 2026 — Free Drone for Women SHGs + ₹15,000/Month Earnings
Objective
Provide agricultural drones to 15,000 Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to enable them to offer drone-based fertiliser and pesticide spraying services to farmers, creating a sustainable income source for rural women.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) registered under DAY-NRLM are eligible — not individuals
- The SHG must be active and engaged in or linked to agricultural activities
- From the SHG, one woman aged 18-50 years (minimum 10th pass) is selected for 15-day drone pilot training
- A second member or family member of the SHG is trained as a drone assistant (for minor repairs and maintenance)
- Priority given to SHGs in major farming regions
Benefits & Features
- 1One agricultural drone provided per selected SHG — government covers 80% cost (up to ₹8 lakh)
- 2SHG pays only 20% of drone cost (can be financed through loan — no upfront burden)
- 315-day training program covering drone flying, agriculture use, safety, and minor repairs
- 4SHG can provide drone spraying services to local farmers and charge a service fee
- 5Trained drone pilot earns approximately ₹15,000 per month from spraying services
- 6Total financial assistance per SHG: up to ₹10 lakh (drone + accessories + training)
Required Documents
- SHG registration certificate under DAY-NRLM
- SHG passbook and bank account details
- Aadhaar card of selected drone pilot member
- 10th pass certificate of the woman selected for pilot training
- SHG resolution (meeting minutes) nominating the drone pilot member
How to Apply
Official Portal & Helpline
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Namo Drone Didi Yojana — When Rural Women Become Drone Pilots
Agriculture meets technology, and at the centre of it is a rural woman from a Self Help Group. The Namo Drone Didi Yojana provides agricultural drones to Women SHGs so they can offer pesticide and fertiliser spraying services to farmers — and earn ₹15,000 a month doing it.
The Cabinet approved the scheme on November 28, 2023 with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore for 15,000 Women SHGs across India.
What the Scheme Provides
For the SHG:
- One complete agricultural drone package per SHG
- Government covers 80% of the drone cost, up to ₹8 lakh
- The remaining 20% can be financed through a loan — the SHG does not need to pay upfront
- Total support per SHG: up to ₹10 lakh (drone + accessories + charging equipment)
For the trained drone pilot:
- 15-day training at an authorised training centre
- Training covers: drone flying, safety rules under DGCA drone regulations, applying nutrients and pesticides for crops, and minor repair and maintenance
- After training: the pilot operates the drone commercially for farmers in the area
Earnings:
- SHG members providing drone spraying services to farmers can earn approximately ₹15,000 per month
- Charges collected from farmers for spraying services generate income for the SHG
Who Gets Selected
This scheme works at the SHG level, not the individual level:
- Women SHGs registered under DAY-NRLM and engaged in agricultural work are identified
- The district NRLM team selects eligible SHGs
- The selected SHG nominates one woman member (aged 18–50, minimum 10th pass) for drone pilot training
- A second member is nominated as a drone assistant
The Training Programme
Duration: 15 days at an authorised drone training institute
What it covers:
- Drone components, assembly, and pre-flight checklist
- Flying practice (simulator + actual field flying)
- DGCA Drone Rules — operational regulations, restricted zones, flight safety
- Agriculture-specific operations: spraying patterns for different crops, coverage calculation
- Minor maintenance and battery handling
- Documentation — maintaining spray logs for farmers
After completing training, the pilot gets a Remote Pilot Certificate from DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), which is mandatory to fly drones commercially in India.
How to Express Interest
SHGs cannot apply directly online for a drone. The process goes through the government machinery:
- Contact your Block Agriculture Office or Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK) in your district
- Contact your NRLM Block Resource Centre — they have lists of SHGs being considered
- Visit namodronedidi.da.gov.in for the latest updates, training centre lists, and selected SHG announcements
- Call DAY-NRLM helpline: 1800-180-5999
Quick Links
- Official Website: namodronedidi.da.gov.in
- Lakhpati Didi Portal: lakhpatididi.gov.in
- Helpline: 1800-180-5999