Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has drawn sharp criticism after using “banned Chinese drones” in a video targeting the Indian government’s policies on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The video, which questioned the government’s stance on drone technology, has sparked a wave of outrage from industry experts, who argue that Gandhi’s remarks unfairly undermine India’s burgeoning drone sector.
Drones have revolutionised warfare, combining batteries, motors and optics to manoeuver and communicate on the battlefield in unprecedented ways. But drones are not just one technology – they are bottom-up innovations produced by a strong industrial system.
Unfortunately, PM… pic.twitter.com/giEFLSJxxv
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 15, 2025
In the video, Rahul Gandhi questioned the Indian government’s approach to the drone industry, but his use of a Chinese drone, specifically a DJI model, has raised eyebrows. Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India, has strongly objected to Gandhi’s actions.
Shah voiced his concerns, stating, “When someone with significant responsibility takes up a Chinese drone and belittles the entire industry, then young people like me have to speak up. There are over 400 companies in our country and about 40-50 drone component companies that are working very hard to deal with all these challenges.” He emphasised the negative impact of such actions, especially from someone whose opinions are followed by a section of society.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: On Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's statement regarding India's drone industry, Smit Shah, President of Drone Federation of India says, "…When someone with significant responsibility takes up a Chinese drone and belittles the entire industry,… pic.twitter.com/JzrAhjAAhc
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025
Shah continued, “Handling a drone that belongs to DJI, which is banned, is a little uncomfortable for me and probably for the entire community. This is quite discouraging, especially when we have made significant strides in developing our own drone industry.”
The controversy comes amidst the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to position India as a global drone hub. According to Shah, the government’s approach has evolved significantly in recent years. “In 2021, with the support of the industry and academia, the government made it clear that India understands drones as a significant opportunity. The technology has been in use for some time, but it has to be one of the most important technologies going forward,” he explained.
The government has also introduced regulations aimed at facilitating drone manufacturing, certification, and operations within India, which, Shah believes, have been key in positioning India’s drone sector for growth. “The focus on making India a global drone hub started with policies that made it easier to do business and introduced clearer regulations for manufacturing drones,” Shah added.
As the debate continues, industry experts are urging greater focus on fostering the domestic drone ecosystem, pointing to the risks of relying on foreign-made technologies, especially those banned in India.
What are DJI drones?
DJI drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced by DJI, a Chinese company renowned for its expertise in drones, camera systems, and flight control technologies. The name DJI is often interpreted as “General Innovations” in English.
