In regions like western UP, drones are frequently seen after dark, raising concerns about privacy violations and thefts. States like Tamil Nadu are seeing a rise in drone-linked complaints near sensitive areas.
1. Weak enforcement of regulations – Though DGCA mandates drone registration and licensing, most private users skip compliance. As of April, only 32,000 out of over 5 lakh drones were registered.
2. Illegal imports – Despite a ban, foreign drones, especially Chinese ones, are smuggled into India, reassembled, and used domestically through grey markets.
3. Privacy threats – The demand for intrusive drone videos in the attention economy is rising, worsening misuse.
The surge in drones is straining police resources.
Way Forward: A possible remedy is boosting India’s drone industry to cut costs and reduce imports. However, given the pace of drone tech adoption by bad actors, it remains a tough battle for law enforcement.
