Tender for Drones: Centre releases tender for the purchase of 200 drones

Under the Survey of Villages for Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Area (Svamitva) initiative, the central government has purchased 200 drones. The government filed Tender for Drones last week, and it would be utilized for detailed topography mapping in plain and undulating areas.

By 2024, the government intends to have completed the aerial survey and mapping of more than 6.62 lakh villages in India. The Survey of India wants to invest in professional survey-grade uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as drones, to assist integrated property validation solutions for rural India.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has issued a paper soliciting proposals for the Project's drone purchase. According to the press announcement, "Professional Survey Grade UAV/Drone-based System with GNSS, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and Optical Sensors, as well as all necessary accessories and software. The maximum delivery time for supplying 200 UAV/Drones will be ten weeks from the date of award announcement." The announcement also stated that interested bidders should keep in mind that, in the future, the procedure of importing drones must strictly adhere to the Ministry of Civil Aviation's March 12 rules.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Svamitva initiative, a scheme launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on National Panchayati Raj Day, April 24. After a successful trial period in nine states, the Project was launched in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. The government has already done the mapping and surveying of 61,077 communities.

The center has established a scheme to create precise land records to aid in good rural planning and eliminate property-related disputes, which can be done by drone technology to survey land. Another benefit of introducing technology is that it will provide financial stability to rural Indians by allowing them to use their property as a financial asset to obtain loans and other economic benefits.