AVPL International and NSDC Launch 1 Panchayat – 1 Drone Udyami Mission
AVPL International has entered a partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the National Entrepreneurs Empowerment Drive (NEED) to create two lakh (200,000) rural drone entrepreneurs, termed “Drone Udyamis”, through the “1 Panchayat – 1 Drone Udyami” mission. The mission was announced in Gurugram on 18 July 2026.
Call for Industry Collaboration
Dr. Deep Sihag Sisai, Founder of AVPL International, publicly invited competing drone manufacturers, component companies, technology providers, training organisations and service firms to join the initiative, stating that the scale of the target is too large for a single company and that collaboration is essential for national interest. He emphasized that while companies may compete in the market, they must cooperate to create the market, and that the opportunity should not be reserved solely for AVPL International.
NEED Programme Overview
NEED, NSDC’s flagship entrepreneurship initiative, converts skilled and aspiring youth into sustainable entrepreneurs by providing technical training, business planning, finance, technology support, market linkages, mentorship and long‑term enterprise hand‑holding. The programme was launched on 1 May 2026 at the Birla Auditorium in Jaipur, attended by Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Minister of State Shri Jayant Chaudhary. Each Drone Udyami will operate a Panchayat‑level Drone and Rural Technology Service Centre offering services such as agriculture spraying, nano‑fertiliser application, seed broadcasting, crop monitoring, surveying, mapping, infrastructure inspection, agri‑input distribution and government‑related drone services. The shared‑service model is designed for India’s fragmented landholdings, allowing a single trained Drone Udyami to serve hundreds of farmers across a Panchayat or cluster of villages.
Market Opportunity Estimate
AVPL International estimates the integrated market opportunity for the mission at approximately ₹1.85 lakh crore. This comprises ₹25,000 crore in agriculture drone kits, ₹60,000 crore in the annual Drone‑as‑a‑Service market, and ₹1,00,000 crore in the annual agri‑input business. The opportunity can further expand across batteries, spare parts, annual maintenance, software, artificial intelligence, crop analytics, training, finance, insurance, government projects and exports.
Drone City Haryana Project
AVPL International has also established Drone City Haryana at Sisai, Hansi, Hisar, on an 11.5‑acre campus. The proposed project, valued at ₹80 crore, has secured approved incentive support of ₹58.51 crore under the Haryana Enterprise and Employment Policy, 2020. The campus will serve as a collaborative platform for drone manufacturing, component production, research, product testing, training, skilling, innovation, entrepreneurship, repairs and export‑oriented development. AVPL International and the Drone Tech Multi‑State Cooperative Society Limited will invite qualified drone OEMs, component manufacturers, software companies, research institutions, banks, NBFCs and technology partners to join.
Closing Statement
Dr. Deep Sihag Sisai concluded that when two lakh Drone Udyamis begin operating, they will generate demand for drones, batteries, components, software, training, maintenance, finance and agri‑inputs, creating opportunities for the entire industry and positioning India as a global hub for drone manufacturing, services, skills and entrepreneurship.