Namo Drone Didi (Central Sector Scheme for providing Drones to the Women Self Help Groups)
नमो ड्रोन दीदी योजना
80% central subsidy, up to ₹8 lakh, for a Women Self Help Group to buy an agricultural drone and rent out spraying services to farmers nearby.
- Central subsidy
- 80% of drone cost, up to ₹8 lakh
- Beneficiary
- Women SHG (not an individual farmer)
- Balance financing
- AIF loan, 3% interest subvention
- Total outlay
- ₹1,261 crore (2023-24 to 2025-26)
- Target
- 15,000 SHGs / drones
- Pilot training
- 15 days (5 flying + 10 agri-application)
- Scheme status
- Active — drones being rolled out
- Cabinet approval
- 29 November 2023
Overview
Namo Drone Didi is a Central Sector Scheme that puts agricultural drones in the hands of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed under DAY-NRLM — not in the hands of individual farmers. The SHG buys the drone, one of its members is trained as a certified drone pilot, and the group then earns income by renting the drone out to farmers in its area for spraying liquid fertiliser and pesticide.
The government pays 80% of the drone package cost directly to the selected SHG as a subsidy, capped at ₹8 lakh. The remaining cost can be raised as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with 3% interest subvention, usually taken by the SHG's Cluster Level Federation (CLF). The package itself bundles the drone, spares, insurance, a two-year maintenance contract and 15 days of training.
If you are a farmer reading this: you are not the applicant here. You cannot apply for a subsidised drone for yourself under this scheme. What changes for you is that a trained, subsidised "Drone Didi" may now operate in your area, and you can hire her SHG's drone for spraying at a per-acre rate instead of buying your own — that is the intended benefit for ordinary farmers.
Scheme highlights
Drone package, not just a drone
Spray-fitted drone, spare batteries and propellers, downward camera, anemometer, pH meter, 1-year warranty, 1-year insurance and a 2-year maintenance contract, bundled together.
80% subsidy, capped at ₹8 lakh
Central Financial Assistance covers 80% of the drone package cost (drone + accessories/ancillary charges), up to a maximum of ₹8 lakh per SHG.
Cheap credit for the balance
The remaining 20% can be financed as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) at 3% interest subvention, usually raised by the SHG's Cluster Level Federation (CLF).
15-day pilot training
One SHG member, aged 18+, gets 5 days of mandatory drone-flying training plus 10 days on agricultural application — spraying nutrients and pesticides correctly and safely.
A second trained member
A second SHG member or family member is trained as a drone assistant/technician, so the drone service does not depend on one person alone.
Income for the SHG, service for farmers
The SHG earns by charging nearby farmers a per-acre rate for spraying — the government estimates at least ₹1 lakh a year in additional income for the trained Drone Didi.
What you get
Capital subsidy, not a cash transfer
80% of the drone package cost, up to ₹8 lakh, paid toward the SHG's drone purchase. It funds an asset the group owns and operates — it is not a recurring individual payment.
Who receives it
The Women SHG (or its Cluster Level Federation) as a group — selected through the state's DAY-NRLM machinery, not an individual farmer applying alone.
Skills that stay with the group
Certified drone-pilot training plus agri-input application training for one member, and assistant/technician training for another — a durable skill, not just equipment.
Cheaper, faster spraying for farmers nearby
Farmers who are not part of the scheme benefit as customers — hiring the SHG's drone for spraying fertiliser or pesticide is typically faster and more even than manual spraying.
Who is eligible
Both lists come from the notified operational guidelines — meeting the left column is not enough if anything in the right column applies to your family.
You qualify if
- Applicant is a Women Self Help Group (SHG) promoted/registered under DAY-NRLM — this is a group scheme, not an individual application
- The SHG (or its member selected for training) is engaged in or linked to agriculture and allied activities
- The member selected for drone-pilot training is at least 18 years old and physically and mentally fit to fly
- The SHG is selected by the State Level Committee / State Rural Livelihood Mission for the drone package
- The SHG (through its Cluster Level Federation) is able to raise the balance drone cost as an AIF loan if the 80% subsidy does not cover the full package
Excluded — even with land
- Individual farmers applying on their own — there is no individual-farmer application route under this scheme
- Groups that are not registered/promoted under DAY-NRLM (the National Rural Livelihoods Mission)
- SHGs not selected by the concerned State Level Committee for the current allocation round
- A proposed pilot-trainee who is under 18 or not certified fit for drone-pilot training
Where this scheme applies
A central scheme with pan-India coverage — open to eligible farmers in every State and Union Territory.
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — the online form takes ten minutes when nothing is missing.
SHG registration proof
Proof that the Self Help Group is registered/promoted under DAY-NRLM, submitted through the State Rural Livelihood Mission.
Identity proof of the nominated member
Aadhaar or equivalent ID for the SHG member nominated for drone-pilot training (must be 18+).
Medical fitness certificate
Confirms the nominated trainee is physically and mentally fit for drone-pilot training, as required before enrolment.
SHG / CLF bank account details
Account of the SHG or its Cluster Level Federation, used for the subsidy and, if taken, the AIF loan.
State Level Committee selection order
The formal selection of the SHG for a drone under the scheme, issued by the state committee.
AIF loan application (if needed)
Required only if the SHG/CLF is borrowing the balance 20% of the drone package cost under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
How to apply, step by step
The same six steps apply whether you register yourself online or sit down at a CSC.
- 1
SHG comes forward through DAY-NRLM
A Women SHG already active under DAY-NRLM expresses interest through its Cluster Level Federation / State Rural Livelihood Mission — there is no direct individual portal to apply on.
- 2
State Level Committee selects the SHG
The state committee reviews and selects SHGs for the current allocation of drones, in line with the operational guidelines.
- 3
Member nominated for training
The SHG nominates one member (18+, fit) for the 15-day drone-pilot training, and a second member/family member for assistant training.
- 4
Training and certification
Training is delivered as part of the drone package by the Lead Fertilizer Company (LFC) responsible for the state, alongside the drone supply.
- 5
Drone package delivered
The LFC procures and supplies the drone package to the SHG/CLF; the 80% subsidy is applied and the balance is financed via AIF loan if the SHG chooses to borrow it.
- 6
SHG starts renting out spraying services
The trained Drone Didi and her SHG begin offering paid drone-spraying services to farmers in the area, generating income for the group.
Important dates
Cabinet approval
29 November 2023
Union Cabinet approved the Central Sector Scheme for providing drones to Women SHGs
Scheme launched
30 November 2023
Announced by the Prime Minister via video conferencing
Operational guidelines released
November 2024
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare notified the detailed guidelines for rollout of the remaining 14,500 drones
Scheme period
2023-24 to 2025-26
Outlay of ₹1,261 crore for this period
Facts last checked
13 July 2026
Against pib.gov.in press releases
Check your eligibility
Straight from the notified criteria. Nothing you enter leaves your phone.
0 of 7 answered
This checker applies the criteria in the official operational guidelines, but it is guidance — only the state government’s verification against the land records is final.
Downloads
Official documents only — everything below is hosted on the government's own servers.
Official links & helpline
Bookmark the portal itself — no third-party site can release, block or speed up a payment.
- Namo Drone Didi official portalDepartment of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare portal for the scheme
- Cabinet approval — PIB press release29 November 2023 — outlay, subsidy structure and target of 15,000 SHGs
- Operational guidelines — PIB press releaseRelease of the detailed operational guidelines by DA&FW
- Implementation status — PIB press releaseParliament reply on drones distributed so far and scheme progress
- DAY-NRLM (Ministry of Rural Development)The parent SHG mission that Namo Drone Didi selects its beneficiary SHGs from
- Farm Mechanisation portal (DA&FW)Hosts the official Namo Drone Didi guidelines and related farm-mechanisation documents
Frequently asked questions
What is Namo Drone Didi?
Namo Drone Didi is a Central Sector Scheme that gives Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) an 80% subsidy, up to ₹8 lakh, to buy an agricultural drone. One SHG member is trained as a certified drone pilot, and the group then earns income by renting the drone out to farmers for spraying fertiliser and pesticide.
Who can apply for Namo Drone Didi — can an individual farmer apply?
No. This scheme is not open to individual farmers. It is a group scheme for Women SHGs registered under DAY-NRLM (the National Rural Livelihoods Mission). SHGs are selected through the State Level Committee / State Rural Livelihood Mission, not through an individual online application.
How does a regular farmer benefit from this scheme?
A farmer benefits as a customer, not an applicant. A trained "Drone Didi" and her SHG may operate in your area, and you can hire their drone for spraying liquid fertiliser or pesticide at a per-acre rate — usually faster and more even than manual spraying.
What is the subsidy amount under Namo Drone Didi?
Central Financial Assistance covers 80% of the drone package cost (the drone plus accessories and ancillary charges), subject to a maximum of ₹8 lakh per SHG.
How is the remaining cost of the drone financed?
The balance cost, after the 80% subsidy, can be raised as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) at 3% interest subvention, typically taken by the SHG's Cluster Level Federation (CLF).
Which SHGs are eligible for Namo Drone Didi?
Women SHGs promoted/registered under DAY-NRLM, engaged in or linked to agriculture and allied activities, and selected by the concerned State Level Committee for a drone allocation.
What training does the scheme provide?
One nominated SHG member (18 years or older, medically fit) receives 15 days of training: 5 days of mandatory drone-pilot flying training plus 10 days on agricultural application — spraying nutrients and pesticides correctly. A second member or family member is separately trained as a drone assistant/technician.
What is included in the Namo Drone Didi drone package?
The package includes the spray-fitted drone, a carrying box, a standard battery set plus 4 spare battery sets, a fast dual-channel charger and hub, a downward-facing camera, an anemometer, a pH meter, a spare propeller set, nozzle sets, one year of onsite warranty, one year of comprehensive insurance, a two-year annual maintenance contract, and the 15-day training.
How many SHGs / drones does the scheme target?
The Cabinet-approved target is 15,000 drones to Women SHGs over 2023-24 to 2025-26, with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore. The November 2024 operational guidelines cover the rollout of the remaining 14,500 drones after an initial 500 were distributed under the scheme in 2023-24.
Who implements Namo Drone Didi on the ground?
Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) responsible for each state procure and supply the drone packages and deliver training, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the Department of Rural Development (which runs DAY-NRLM) and the Department of Fertilizers. Ownership of the drone rests with the SHG or its Cluster Level Federation.
How much income can an SHG earn from the drone?
The government has estimated that the scheme can generate additional income of at least ₹1 lakh per year for a trained Drone Didi, earned by charging farmers a per-acre rate for spraying services.
When was Namo Drone Didi approved and launched?
The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 29 November 2023, and the Prime Minister announced it via video conferencing on 30 November 2023. Detailed operational guidelines for the wider rollout were released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in November 2024.
Is Namo Drone Didi the same as any drone scheme for individual farmer-entrepreneurs?
No. Namo Drone Didi is specifically for Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM. It is a distinct central scheme from any drone subsidy that may be available to individual Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) or agricultural graduates under separate drone-promotion guidelines of the agriculture ministry.
What is a Cluster Level Federation (CLF) and why does it matter here?
A CLF is a federation of multiple SHGs formed under DAY-NRLM. It commonly holds the ownership of the drone on behalf of member SHGs and is typically the entity that raises the balance loan amount under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
Where can I read the official rules of Namo Drone Didi?
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare's Operational Guidelines for Namo Drone Didi, hosted on farmech.dac.gov.in, is the official rulebook. The scheme also has a dedicated portal at namodronedidi.da.gov.in, and Cabinet and implementation updates are published as press releases on pib.gov.in.
Still have questions?
The FAQs above cover the common ones. For anything about your specific application, the ministry helpline undefined is the authoritative answer — and we are happy to point you in the right direction.