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
1Where has India's first dedicated Drone Battalion been initiated for advanced testing and border security?
2According to Drone Rules 2021, drones weighing 250 grams or less are classified under which category?
3Under which scheme was drone-based mapping conducted for rural property boundary demarcation in MP?
4A defense technology that disrupts illegal drone navigation using Radio Frequency jamming is called:
5Which portal is launched by the Civil Aviation Ministry for drone flight registration and airspace zoning?
6What is the name of the indigenous anti-drone system developed by DRDO?
7Which incentive scheme was introduced by the Indian Government to boost domestic drone manufacturing?
8From an MPPSC exam perspective, what is a prime example of 'Dual-Use Technology'?
Frequently Asked Questions
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