Civil aviation minister to head task force for fast-tracking UAV technology

The task force will consist of representatives from the government, PSUs, industry and sectoral experts and submit report within 6 months of its constitution. The headquarters of the task force will be at ministry of civil aviation, New Delhi.

The task force will have minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha as its chairman. It will have secretaries of the ministries of civil aviation and home affairs, department of defence and the department of industrial policy and promotion, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, director general of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, director general of civil aviation, chairman and secretary, Defence Research and Development Organisation, director general and secretary of the department of scientific and industrial research, chairman of the Airports Authority of India, head of department of aerospace engineering at IIT Kanpur, joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry (member secretary) as members.

Besides, the task force will co-opt industry experts as special invitees on need basis. 

The task force will focus, inter-alia, on research and development, acquisition and commercialisation, application and adoption in specific sectors, regulatory framework, preference for Make in India.

The task force will prepare a roadmap with implementable recommendations for the central government, state governments, industry and research institutions, on the outcomes, timelines, implementation and review mechanism and measurable metrics. The role of the industry will also be clearly delineated.

The task force will have necessary consultations and interactions with industry, research institutions and government organizations. It may also study global practices and interact with relevant stakeholders, as required, for preparation of the report.