Namo Drone Didi
Funded in the 2026-27 Union Budget: Union Expenditure Budget 2026-27 (Feb 2026, Demand No. 1 (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), item 15 NAMO DRONE DIDI, BE 2026-27 ₹676.85 crore; Notes item 15)
Women self-help groups under DAY-NRLM get 80% of the cost of an agricultural drone package, up to ₹8 lakh, to run drone spraying services for farmers; the rest can be borrowed under AIF with 3% interest relief.
- Lead benefit
- 80%of the cost, at most
- Components
- 2each read from the document
- Who can apply
- 1kinds of applicant
- Closing date
- Noneapply any time
What it pays
80% of the cost of a drone package (drone with accessories and ancillary charges), up to ₹8 lakh, for a women SHG selected under the scheme.
What the document says, word for word
Only women SHGs and their cluster-level federations promoted under DAY-NRLM are covered (cl. 2.1(b)). The drone stays with the SHG under an MoU with the Lead Fertilizer Company (cl. 3.1(ix)).
“6.0 Pattern of Financial Assistance (a) Central Financial Assistance @ 80% of the cost of drone package up to a maximum of Rs. 8.00 lakhs will be provided to the women SHGs for purchase of drones including accessories/ancillary charges as indicated in Annexure-II.”For the rest of the drone’s cost, the SHG or its federation can take an AIF loan on which the government pays 3% a year of the interest, for up to 7 years.
What the document says, word for word
The loan is only for the part of the drone package not covered by the 80% assistance. SHGs may instead borrow from other Rural Development schemes (cl. 6.0(b)).
“(b) Towards the remaining cost of drone, the CLFs/SHGs may avail loan under AIF with interest subvention of 3% per annum. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years. The expenditure on amount of AIF loan and interest subvention thereon will be met from the sanctioned budget of AIF.”How much can I claim?
This clause does not fund this applicant type (6.0(a)).
Only women SHGs and their cluster-level federations promoted under DAY-NRLM are covered (cl. 2.1(b)). The drone stays with the SHG under an MoU with the Lead Fertilizer Company (cl. 3.1(ix)).
Who can apply
- Self-help group
Papers you need
How to apply
- There is no open application: the State Level Committee picks the clusters where drones are viable and then the progressive cluster-level federations and women SHGs under DAY-NRLM (cl. 5.3(iii), 9.0(a)–(c)).
- Ask your block’s DAY-NRLM (Ajeevika) staff or the state agriculture department whether your SHG’s cluster is being considered; the list is finalised by DAY-NRLM and approved centrally (cl. 9.0(d)).
- One SHG member aged 18–50 who has passed class 10 is trained as the drone pilot (‘Drone Didi’), and another member or family member as drone assistant (cl. 7.0, 8.2, 8.3).
- The Lead Fertilizer Company for your state buys the drone package and hands it to your SHG; it tells you the subsidy and helps you get an AIF loan for the balance (cl. 9.0(e)–(h)).
Applying is free. Never pay anyone to apply for you.
When to apply
The guidelines set no closing date.
Combining with other schemes
The documents do not say whether this can be combined with other schemes. Ask the implementing office before you count on both.