Drone start-ups take off, but regulatory airspace remains cloudy

While drone rules significantly, especially for testing and R&D, start-ups say there is no comprehensive framework yet for full-scale commercial drone operations.  

As India’s economy chases faster delivery cycles, drones are increasingly becoming part of the last-mile logistics solution—especially in e-commerce, quick commerce and healthcare sectors. With the regulatory permissions under Drone Rules 2021, start-ups are now piloting and scaling drone-based deliveries in metros and remote areas alike. “The three large sectors where we have been doing last-mile logistics are e-commerce, healthcare and quick commerce,” said Ankit Kumar, Founder of New Delhi-based Skye Air Mobility. “E-commerce is taking off in a massive manner as more companies work with us to reach customers faster...On a daily basis, Skye Air handles nearly 6,500 orders, with each drone carrying payloads below 10 kg. Around 40 per cent of its quick commerce drone flights are “batched”, meaning multiple shipments are combined in a single run—bringing in greater cost and time efficiency compared to traditional ground-based methods. 

Skye Air also operates drone routes for medical deliveries, ferrying medicines from Central Medical Stores to primary and tertiary healthcare centers. It uses drones with 2 kg and 6 kg payload capacities to cover distances of up to 100 km, depending on the route. Return trips often involve collecting blood samples for testing at district-level hospitals, bridging the infrastructure gap at smaller centers that lack lab facilities. 

“Unlike urban deliveries, healthcare deliveries often require covering longer distances with sensitive payloads. That’s where drone technology proves critical,” Kumar said.  Several drone-tech start-ups are now eyeing commercial-scale applications. Airbound, a Bengaluru-based firm, is preparing to launch its operations in the healthcare sector. “Right now, drone deliveries cost about ₹100 per km. That’s far from efficient,” said Naman Pushp, Founder and CEO, Airbound. “We’ve been focused on building technology that powers highly- efficient aircraft.”  Airbound’s broader ambition is to make drone delivery viable across use-cases—from medical to e-commerce...While India has liberalised drone rules significantly, especially for testing and R&D, start-ups say there is no comprehensive framework yet for full-scale commercial drone operations. “There are provisions for test flights, but scaling operations for large customers lacks regulatory clarity,” Pushp said. Airbound is working closely with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to help shape a roadmap for broader commercial adoption.... 

As drone tech continues to evolve and find footholds in critical sectors, industry stakeholders agree that a clearer regulatory roadmap and on-ground infrastructure will be key to making last-mile drone delivery a scalable reality.