Overview
- The state announced on Thursday, August 13, 2026, that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has created a ministerial task force to drive implementation of Maharashtra’s drone policy and to act as a single channel for entrepreneur concerns.
- Minister Ashish Shelar will lead the task force and has been asked to assess existing drone companies, coordinate state agencies, and map where testing ranges, labs and aerospace capabilities need strengthening.
- Fadnavis instructed officials to build a 'policy of policies' that consolidates research and development provisions, incentives, patent support and testing rules so entrepreneurs can access multiple schemes through one framework.
- The government directed fast tracking of a planned 'Drone City' in the Industrial City area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and asked MIDC to consider a two- to three-year land-incentive package to host drone firms.
- Officials were also told to examine temporary financial support for testing and patent costs until state testing infrastructure is in place and to prepare follow-up notifications, timelines and budgets for implementation.