Why in News?
To counter cross-border illegal drone incursions carrying contraband and weapons, India's first dedicated Drone Battalion has been raised in Punjab along the 553 km India-Pakistan border.
Operating under joint Army and Border Security Force (BSF) protocols, this unit serves as a operational hub for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-drone warfare.
Technical Components & Counter-Drone Warfare
- 553 km Border Perimeter Coverage: Continuous day and night automated tracking of hostile UAVs across the Punjab international border.
- D4 Anti-Drone System: Deployment of DRDO's D4 System (Drone Detection, Deterrence and Destruction) using RF jamming and GPS spoofing.
- Defense Startup Testbed: Serves as a live proving ground for Indian defense startups building combat and logistics multi-copter drones.
- AI-Enabled Night Vision: Thermal cameras coupled with AI algorithms for detecting human and drone intrusions in dense fog.
Drone Rules 2021 & Drone Applications in Madhya Pradesh
- Drone Rules 2021 Categories: Governed by Civil Aviation Ministry into 5 weight tiers: Nano (≤250g), Micro (250g–2kg), Small (2kg–25kg), Medium (25kg–150kg), and Large (>150kg).
- DigitalSky Platform: Manages airspace zoning into Green, Yellow, and Red zones across India.
- SVAMITVA Scheme in MP: Madhya Pradesh pioneered 100% rural property survey mapping using drones under the SVAMITVA Scheme.
- Civil Applications in MP: Agricultural pesticide spraying, flood relief assessment, and establishing dedicated Drone Schools in Gwalior and Indore.
MPPSC & UPSC Syllabus Interlinking
- MPPSC Mains: Paper 3 (Unit 7) - Drone Technology Applications, Robotics & IT in Defence + Paper 2 - National Security.
- UPSC Mains: GS Paper 3 - Security Challenges in Border Areas, Non-State Actors & Emerging Technology Threats.
- Prelims Quick Facts: India's first Drone Battalion (Punjab), D4 System (DRDO), Nano Drone limit (250g), and MP Drone Schools.
Practice Questions
1What is the name of India's first dedicated Drone Battalion raised by the Indian Army in Jalandhar, Punjab?
2Under which Corps of the Indian Army will the country's first 'Baaz' Drone Battalion operate?
3What is the primary operational role of the Israeli 'Heron TP' drone used by Indian Armed Forces?
4Under India's Drone Rules 2021, which airspace zone does NOT require prior flight permission?
5What is the key characteristic of a Kamikaze Drone or Loitering Munition?
6Which primary border guarding force monitors illegal drone incursions and drug smuggling along the India-Pakistan border?
7What does a 'Soft-Kill' measure refer to in Counter-Drone / Anti-Drone systems?
8Which MPPSC Mains paper covers 'Defense Technology and Drone Robotics'?
Frequently Asked Questions
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