According to the BBC’s report, the Indian government wants to create a domestic industry that can design and assemble drones, as well as produce components that go into its manufacture.

“Drones can be an important source of employment and economic growth due to their versatility and ease of use, especially in remote areas of India”– says Amber Dubey, former deputy secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. “India has the potential to become a global hub for drones by 2030” . Dubey plans to invest approximately $630 million in this sector over the next three years.

However, despite the hype and investment in the Indian drone industry, even those working in the industry advise caution. “I think we need to be careful as we don’t have ecosystem and technology startups right now.” says Rajiv Kumar Narang of the Drone Federation of India.

He says the industry needs a robust regulator to oversee safety and help develop an air traffic control system for drones. This will be particularly important as aircraft sizes increase.

Narang estimates that India will need up to 500,000 certified drone pilots within five years.