Namo Drone Didi: how a government scheme is turning rural women into certified drone pilots

What the scheme provides

Namo Drone Didi is a central government scheme that gives women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) access to agricultural drones for spraying fertilisers and pesticides. The government covers 80% of the drone package cost, up to Rs 8 lakh, with the remaining 20% available as a low-interest loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

Who it's for

One member from each selected SHG is trained as a certified drone pilot over a 15-day course that also covers safe application of agricultural inputs. The scheme targets 15,000 SHGs by 2025-26.

What we know

As of January 2026, over 1,000 drones had been distributed to women-led SHGs, with Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana among the states with the highest numbers so far. Operators earn income by renting out drone spraying services to farmers in their area.

Why it matters

The scheme is one of several central initiatives shifting from direct welfare payments toward giving rural women a skill and an income stream of their own, part of a broader push toward what the government calls "women-led development."