Drone filming permissions in India: a guide for productions

A note before you read: drone rules in India have changed several times since 2021, and further changes have been proposed. This guide explains how the system works, not legal advice. Always check the current rules on the Digital Sky platform and the DGCA website, or ask your drone crew.

The framework: Drone Rules, 2021

Civil drone use in India is governed by the Drone Rules, 2021, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and amended since (notably in 2022). They're administered through Digital Sky, the government's online platform for drone registration, pilot certification and airspace information.

1. The drone must be registered

Drones used commercially need a Unique Identification Number (UIN), issued through Digital Sky and linked to that specific aircraft. When you hire a crew, their drones should already be registered. It's worth asking.

2. The pilot must be certified

Commercial drone operations need a pilot holding a remote pilot certificate, issued after training at a DGCA-authorised remote pilot training organisation. The 2022 amendment replaced the earlier "licence" with this certificate. The smallest drones flown non-commercially are exempt, but a paid production shoot is commercial.

3. The location's airspace decides the approval

Digital Sky publishes an airspace map that divides India into three colour-coded zones:

• Green zones: flying is allowed within the rules without a separate airspace permission.
• Yellow zones: controlled airspace, typically around airports. Flying needs permission from the relevant air traffic control authority.
• Red zones: no-fly areas, such as around sensitive government and defence installations. Flying is only possible with permission from the central government.

The zone boundaries are on the map, and they can change, including temporary restrictions around VIP movements and events. This is the single biggest factor in how much notice a shoot needs: a green-zone location can be quick, while a yellow-zone location near an airport needs time for ATC approval and may still be refused.

4. Location permissions are separate

Airspace approval doesn't give you the right to film on someone's property. You'll typically also need:

• The property owner's or venue's permission for private land, buildings, hotels and campuses
• Local authority or police permission for public places, roads and crowds, often through the state's film facilitation office for film shoots
• Special permissions for protected monuments, forests and wildlife areas, which often restrict drones entirely

5. Insurance

Third-party insurance protects you, your crew and the public if something goes wrong. Ask your crew what their operations are insured for. Venues and productions increasingly ask to see it.

Indoors is different, mostly

Flying inside a closed building, like an office, hotel lobby or factory, is generally treated differently from flying in outdoor airspace. You still need the property's permission and a safe plan. If the shot starts or ends outside, the outdoor part follows the normal rules.

Shooting in Qatar

Qatar regulates drones through its Civil Aviation Authority, and introduced a new law on unmanned aircraft in 2026. Commercial filming there requires approval before you fly, and rules on locations and operators are strict. If you're planning a shoot in Doha, involve your drone crew early. We'll check the current requirements for your dates.

How we handle it

When you send us a location, we check it on the airspace map before quoting, tell you which approvals it needs and how much notice that takes, and guide your team through getting them. If a location can't be approved in time, we'll suggest alternatives, like a nearby green-zone spot or a different shot. Send us your locations and we'll check them.