Quick Info
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Drone Federation India |
| Abbreviation | DFI |
| Nature | Non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led organisation |
| Sector | Drones, unmanned aviation, counter-drone systems and aerial mobility |
| Headquarters/Public Office | New Delhi, India |
| Slogan | Building India’s Drone Industry |
| Website | dronefederation.in |
| President | Smit Shah |
| Chairperson | Vipul Singh |
| Vice Chairperson | Ankit Mehta |
| Immediate Past Chairperson | Rahat Kulshreshtha |
| Corporate Identification Number | U93090MH2019NPL333847 |
| Primary Focus | Policy advocacy, trade promotion, technology development, standards, training and community engagement |
| Official Contact Number | 011 20819809 |
| Official Email | info@dronefederation.in |
What is Drone Federation India?
The Drone Federation India (DFI) is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry body representing India’s drone and counter-drone ecosystem.
It brings together drone manufacturers, service providers, pilots, researchers, startups, technology companies, policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders. Its stated mission is to help India build a safe, innovative, self-reliant, and globally competitive drone industry. DFI About Us
DFI works on policy, industry standards, certification, training, market development, indigenous technology, and responsible drone adoption across sectors such as agriculture, defence, logistics, infrastructure, healthcare, disaster management, and urban mobility.
History and Legal Identity
DFI’s public industry profile identifies the organisation as having been founded in 2017. Public corporate records separately list the legal entity Drone Federation India as incorporated on 2 December 2019 with the Corporate Identification Number U93090MH2019NPL333847. DFI LinkedIn profile Public corporate record
The organisation describes itself as an industry-led platform rather than a government regulator. Its role is to represent industry perspectives, support compliance, facilitate collaboration, and work with government bodies and regulatory authorities.
Mission and Vision
Mission
DFI’s mission is to lead India’s drone revolution by:
- Promoting progressive and practical policies
- Building safety and technical standards
- Supporting Indian drone and counter-drone technologies
- Helping industry stakeholders design and deploy reliable systems
- Strengthening security, governance, mobility, and economic growth
Vision
DFI aims to establish India as a global hub for:
- Drones
- Counter-drone technologies
- Aerial mobility
- Indigenous components
- Advanced unmanned systems
- Allied aviation technologies
The organisation links this vision with Atmanirbhar Bharat, innovation, economic development, and the creation of new technology-driven opportunities. DFI About Us
Leadership
The current leadership listed on DFI’s official website includes:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Vipul Singh | Chairperson |
| Ankit Mehta | Vice Chairperson |
| Rahat Kulshreshtha | Immediate Past Chairperson |
| Smit Shah | President |
| Shirin Joshi | Director, Partnerships & Trade Promotion |
| Shivangi Prakash | Associate Director, Public Policy & New Initiatives |
Main Focus Areas
1. Policy Advocacy
DFI works with government departments, regulators, industry bodies, and international stakeholders to develop regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with safety and security.
Its policy work focuses on:
- Simplifying regulatory compliance
- Supporting responsible drone operations
- Representing industry concerns before policymakers
- Tracking consultations and policy changes
- Encouraging transparent and predictable regulations
DFI also operates an Open Policy Tracker to help stakeholders follow developments in India’s drone-policy ecosystem. DFI Focus Areas
2. Trade Promotion
DFI promotes the adoption of drone technology by connecting technology providers with potential users in government and private industry.
Its trade-promotion activities include:
- Buyer-seller meetings
- Industry showcases
- Business conferences
- Market-creation workshops
- Export-promotion initiatives
- International delegations
- Partnerships with government departments and enterprises
3. Technology Development
DFI supports research and innovation by connecting startups, manufacturers, academic institutions, and user agencies.
Its technology-related work includes:
- Publishing industry problem statements
- Supporting research and development
- Promoting testing and validation
- Encouraging indigenous components
- Developing technology roadmaps
- Supporting drone operations and testing infrastructure
- Promoting innovation partnerships
4. Standards and Certification
DFI works with industry and regulatory stakeholders to develop technical standards, recommended practices, and certification frameworks.
This area covers:
- Drone safety
- Product reliability
- Interoperability
- Civil certification
- Military airworthiness
- BVLOS operations
- Component quality
- Testing and compliance documentation
DFI also lists CertiFly, a digital certification tool designed to streamline certification and documentation workflows. DFI Focus Areas
5. Training and Education
DFI works to improve the availability of industry-aligned training and professional education.
Its activities include:
- Curriculum development
- Pilot and operator training
- Technical workshops
- Capacity-building programmes
- Compliance education
- Maintenance and manufacturing training
- Knowledge resources for students and professionals
6. Community Engagement
DFI connects industry, academia, government departments, regulators, startups, and drone enthusiasts through:
- National summits
- Regional events
- Community forums
- Student competitions
- Workshops
- Networking programmes
- Industry roundtables
Key Initiatives
Bharat Drone Stack
Bharat Drone Stack is a DFI initiative focused on accelerating localisation of the drone supply chain and strengthening India’s domestic component ecosystem.
Its objectives include:
- Developing indigenous drone components
- Connecting manufacturers and suppliers
- Reducing dependence on imported components
- Supporting secure communications
- Advancing GNSS-denied navigation
- Promoting advanced materials
- Positioning India as a global drone-manufacturing hub
The initiative has featured more than 80 industry leaders, over 40 exhibitors, and technical sessions focused on critical drone subsystems and materials. Bharat Drone Stack
NIDAR 2026–27
The National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application & Research (NIDAR) is a national-level challenge for students, startups, and researchers.
The 2026–27 edition features three problem statements:
- Rescue Swarm
- Air Mouse
- VEGA Pilot
DFI lists ₹67 lakh in prizes, along with national recognition, industry mentorship, and potential core-sector placements. DFI Key Initiatives
Sectoral Committees
DFI’s sectoral committees bring together experts from industry, academia, and government to examine the use of drones in areas such as:
- Defence
- Agriculture
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Skilling
- Urban Air Mobility
These committees work on practical solutions, policy inputs, standardisation, and sector-specific drone adoption.
Role in India’s Drone Policy
DFI has participated in policy discussions concerning India’s drone regulations and industry-development measures.
In a public-policy interview, DFI President Smit Shah described the organisation’s role in representing the industry’s views before government stakeholders during the development of the Drone Rules, 2021. DFI has also promoted the use of drones in agriculture, healthcare, disaster management, infrastructure inspection, and other public-interest applications. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
DFI has also highlighted the need for stronger indigenous manufacturing and counter-drone capabilities. In 2025, the organisation stated that India had more than 400 companies producing different types of drones and over 50 companies working on drone components. The New Indian Express/IANS
Membership
DFI offers membership options for different categories of participants in the drone ecosystem:
| Membership Category | Listed Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Student Membership | ₹1,000 |
| Professional Membership | ₹5,000 |
| Early-Stage Startup Membership | ₹25,000 |
| Startup Membership | ₹1,00,000 |
| Corporate Membership | ₹3,00,000 |
Members may receive access to policy forums, networking opportunities, industry resources, events, market intelligence, and engagement with government and regulatory stakeholders. DFI Membership
Contact Details
Official Corporate Office
Drone Federation India
116, Air India Building, Safdarjung Airport
New Delhi–110003, India
General Phone:
011 20819809
General Email:
info@dronefederation.in
The official contact page also lists team-specific contact channels:
| Department | Contact |
|---|---|
| President, DFI — Smit Shah | president@dronefederation.in |
| Partnerships & Trade Promotion — Shirin Joshi | partnerships-team@dronefederation.in |
| Public Policy & New Initiatives — Shivangi Prakash | policy-team@dronefederation.in |
| Events & Community Forums — Drishti Jain | events-team@dronefederation.in |
| Standards, Certification & Software Platforms — Rhythm Galrani | technical-team@dronefederation.in |
| Marketing & Communications — Khushi Sharma | marketing-team@dronefederation.in |
All the above contacts and the phone number are listed on DFI’s official contact page. DFI Contact Page
Official Social Media Accounts
DFI’s official contact page and publicly indexed social profiles list the following accounts:
- X: @dronefed
- Facebook: Drone Federation India
- LinkedIn: Drone Federation India
- Instagram: @dronefederationindia
- YouTube: Drone Federation India
- Official Website: dronefederation.in
DFI’s LinkedIn profile describes the organisation as a nonprofit industry body headquartered in New Delhi and uses the slogan “Building India’s Drone Industry.” DFI LinkedIn
Google Search Result Contact Note
Some third-party Google search results and business directories also display:
- Phone: +91 9819995473
- Office 116, Air India Reservation Building, New Delhi–110003
- Linktree: linktr.ee/dronefed
Because these listings may be older, duplicated, or maintained by third parties, the official contact page’s phone number—011 20819809—and email—info@dronefederation.in—should be treated as the primary contact details. SignalHire ContactOut
Some Lesser-Known Facts About DFI
- DFI describes itself as a non-government and not-for-profit organisation.
- It represents both the drone and counter-drone ecosystem.
- Its current public office is located at the Air India Building near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi.
- The organisation’s public industry profile lists it as founded in 2017, while corporate records list the legal entity’s incorporation in 2019.
- Its current website lists Vipul Singh as Chairperson and Smit Shah as President.
- DFI works across policy, trade, technology, standards, training, and community engagement.
- Bharat Drone Stack focuses on supply-chain localisation and indigenous components.
- NIDAR 2026–27 offers ₹67 lakh in prizes and targets students, startups, and researchers.
- DFI maintains an Open Policy Tracker for drone-related regulatory developments.
- DFI is an industry body and not a substitute for government regulators such as the DGCA.
- Drone pilots, manufacturers, and operators should independently verify all permissions, registrations, certifications, and airspace requirements with the relevant authorities.
Disclaimer: Contact details, office-bearer positions, membership fees, social-media handles, and programme details may change. The information above was compiled from DFI’s official website and contact page, official social-media links, public government sources, and publicly indexed Google search results.
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