Rashtriya Raksha University joins hands with DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations to establish DGCA Certified RPTO in Gujarat

Rashtriya Raksha University, an educational organization of National importance, has partnered with
DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations, a Pune-based enterprise drone solutions company and now a DGCA –
certified RPTO, to establish an RPTO. Currently on the precipice of becoming a Global Drone Hub by 2030,
“India will need approximately one lakh drone pilots in the coming years”, as stated by the Aviation Minister Shri Jyothiraditya Scindia.

Understanding the major deficit of skill and talent in the drone industry, DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations has joined hands with one of Gujarat’s most reputed educational organizations, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), to set up a Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) at their institution. Aiming to upskill the next generation, their main objective is to satiate the ever – growing demand for certified talent in the Indian drone industry. The collaboration represents a major step towards democratizing access to drone pilot training and associated courses, as well as providing a forum for students interested in non -traditional education or building a career in the drone industry.

There is no denying that the drone industry has grown at a breakneck pace over the last few years – the
drone industry’s market size has exploded. According to a Civil Aviation Ministry estimate, India’s drone
sector will achieve a turnover of Rs. 12,000 – 15,000 crore by 2026, from about Rs. 80 crore now, as reported by MoneyControl. In comparison to other countries, the Indian drone market is quite untapped.

To cope up, multiple drone projects are being rolled out by the Government and Private organizations.
Despite having numerous applications and creating a plethora of opportunities, the number of drone pilots required to execute these operations is scarce. Under the new Drone Rules 2021, it is mandatory for a drone pilot to be DGCA certified to commercially fly a drone in India. Additionally, there are even fewer
Remote Pilot Training Organizations (RPTO) in the country that provide pilot training and certification.

“Our team is composed of both highly experienced executives and young, enthusiastic team members who are passionate about drones. With this partnership, we hope to not only offer new opportunities to the general public, but also empower the Indian drone sector with ability and skill”, says Prateek Srivastava, Founder and CEO of DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations.

The structure will feature the DGCA’s Drone Pilot Training Course for five days and additional 2 – 3 days of
any one of DroneAcharya’s inhouse tailored courses for drone building, repair and maintenance, drone
data processing with GIS, Python coding for automation, and industrial training for Agriculture, Mining,
Logistics, Surveillance, Security, and Disaster Management.

In addition, it will be the first RPTO in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. In light of the existing importance of the drone industry and current education system in Gujarat, this will be a significant step for all parties involved, including DroneAcharya, Rashtriya Raksha University, and the general public. In addition to boosting awareness, these courses will play a significant role in making India a global hub for drone technology.

With official guidelines from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) for mining activities, the National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI) for road assessments, and Survey of India for mapping India using drones, the
demand for drone pilots, data experts, drone repair and maintenance personnel, and drone builders will
continue to rise. Taking all of these factors into account, this RPTO has the potential to have a profound
effect on Gujarat’s Drone Industry.