The drone subsidy for farmers is not "up to ₹4 lakh" for everyone. Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), small and marginal, SC/ST, women and North-Eastern farmers get 50% of the drone cost up to ₹5 lakh, and other farmers get 40% up to ₹4 lakh. Institutions such as KVKs and ICAR institutes get 100% up to ₹10 lakh for demonstrations, and women's self-help groups can get 80% up to ₹8 lakh under Namo Drone Didi, which had only distributed about 500 drones by March 2026.
Below are the rates as the Agriculture Ministry stated them in Parliament (Lok Sabha replies in March 2023 and December 2025), how the arithmetic works, and how to apply. For the rules on flying a drone and spraying pesticides legally, see Kisan Drone Yojana: training, rules and uses.
SMAM drone subsidy rates
| Who buys the drone | Assistance | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Individual small and marginal, SC/ST, women and North-Eastern state farmers | 50% of cost | ₹5 lakh |
| Other individual farmers | 40% of cost | ₹4 lakh |
| Custom Hiring Centres run by cooperative societies, FPOs or rural entrepreneurs | 40% of basic cost of drone and attachments | ₹4 lakh |
| Agriculture graduates setting up a CHC | 50% of cost | ₹5 lakh per drone |
| ICAR institutes, KVKs, SAUs, FMTTIs (for demonstrations on farmers' fields) | 100% of cost | ₹10 lakh per drone |
| FPOs (for demonstrations on farmers' fields) | Grant up to 75% of cost | As per guidelines |
| Agencies that hire drones for demonstrations instead of buying | ₹6,000 per hectare (₹3,000 per hectare if the agency owns the drone) | - |
A rural entrepreneur setting up a drone CHC must have passed class 10 and hold a remote pilot certificate from a DGCA-authorised training organisation.
Worked example
Assume a spraying drone package costs ₹10 lakh (this is an assumption for illustration, not a price list; real prices depend on the model, payload and accessories).
| Buyer | Subsidy | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small/marginal, SC/ST or woman farmer (50%, cap ₹5 lakh) | ₹5,00,000 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Other farmer (40%, cap ₹4 lakh) | ₹4,00,000 | ₹6,00,000 |
| Women SHG under Namo Drone Didi (80%, cap ₹8 lakh) | ₹8,00,000 | ₹2,00,000 (can be financed under AIF with 3% interest subvention) |
The scheme states the subsidy on the "basic cost" of the drone and its attachments for CHCs. Ask your state department whether GST and extras such as batteries, charger, transport vehicle and insurance are included before you sign a purchase order.
Namo Drone Didi: the women's SHG route
- What it gives: central assistance of 80% of the drone package cost, up to ₹8 lakh, for women SHGs under DAY-NRLM. The balance can be raised as a loan under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) with 3% interest subvention for the cluster-level federation or SHG.
- What the package contains: drone with spray assembly, carrying box, battery sets (one standard plus four spare), fast charger and charger hub, downward-facing camera, anemometer, pH meter, one-year warranty and comprehensive insurance, two-year maintenance contract, and 15 days of training for the drone pilot plus a drone assistant.
- Who buys: Lead Fertiliser Companies procure the drones; ownership sits with the SHG or cluster federation.
- Approval period and status: approved with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26 to supply 15,000 drones to women SHGs. As of the March 2026 Lok Sabha reply, about 500 drones had been distributed under it (in total 1,094 drones reached SHGs via fertiliser companies in 2023-24). The approval period ended in March 2026, and we could not find an extension notice. SHGs should ask their state rural livelihoods mission whether allocations are still open.
How to apply
- Check the drone first. It should be a DGCA-compliant model (registered and type-certified), and you or your operator need a remote pilot certificate. See Kisan Drone Yojana for the rules.
- Apply through your state agriculture department (agricultural engineering or mechanization wing). SMAM is run by states, and subsidy on machinery is paid by direct benefit transfer through the Department's farm-mechanization portal, agrimachinery.nic.in. Your state may have its own registration steps.
- Ask about funding. Central funds are limited: during 2023-24 to 2025-26 (up to 30 November 2025) only 2,122 drones were approved for distribution to individual farmers and CHCs across India. Availability differs by state and year.
- For CHCs, FPOs and SHGs, submit a project proposal; drones can be one item in a CHC or Hi-Tech Hub project.
- Keep all invoices and the DGCA registration document for the subsidy claim.
Ignore offers that promise "guaranteed 100% subsidy" or ask for an advance fee to "release" your drone subsidy; apply through the agriculture department. You can also check other schemes in the subsidy finder.
Sources
- PIB: Government Promotes AI and Drone Technologies (16 Dec 2025), SMAM rate and drone numbers
- PIB: Funds for Kisan Drones (21 Mar 2023), full SMAM drone rates
- PIB: Government to Promote Drone use in Agriculture (22 Jan 2022)
- PIB: Operational Guidelines of Namo Drone Didi (1 Nov 2024)
- PIB: Implementation of Drone Didi Scheme (29 Jul 2025)
- Down To Earth: As told to Parliament (24 Mar 2026), Namo Drone Didi status
- Digital Platform for Farm Mechanization and Technology (DBT), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare