Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday that Maharashtra will set up a ministerial task force led by IT and AI minister Ashish Shelar to ensure effective implementation of the state’s drone policy.
- The government ordered officials to create a single 'policy of policies' that consolidates R&D funding, indigenous component rules, testing protocols, patent assistance and subsidy provisions so entrepreneurs can access benefits through one mechanism.
- Fadnavis directed acceleration of a planned 'Drone City' in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and asked the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to consider short-term land and incentive measures to attract manufacturers.
- The state will establish dedicated testing ranges, offer interim financial help for testing costs, assist with patent expenses, and assess existing entrepreneurs for inclusion under the policy as facilities are built out.
- Officials said the move is designed to strengthen Maharashtra's aerospace capacity to capture defence-linked opportunities, but formal task force constitution, implementation schedules and budget allocations have not yet been published.