1. The rules that apply everywhere in India
Civil drones are governed by the Drone Rules, 2021, which now sit under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The points that matter for a shoot:
- Every drone needs a UIN (unique identification number). Only research drones are exempt, so this includes nano drones. Registration moved from Digital Sky to the eGCA portal in July 2025.
- A Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) is needed for everyone except those flying nano drones (250 g or less), or micro drones (up to 2 kg) for non-commercial use. Paid work with a DJI Air or Mavic therefore needs an RPC holder.
- Third-party insurance: the Rules apply the Motor Vehicles Act's third-party insurance provisions to drones, with nano drones exempt.
- Height: the green zone runs up to 400 ft (120 m) above ground. Anything higher is controlled airspace.
- Safety: no flying in a way that endangers people or property.
- Penalties: fines of up to ₹1 lakh, and flying in a red or yellow zone without permission is a cognizable offence.
Imports of complete drones have been restricted since February 2022, and in 2025 DGCA began cancelling UINs of illegally imported drones. When you hire an operator, ask for the drone's UIN and the pilot's RPC.
2. Green, yellow and red zones
India's airspace map on the Digital Sky platform divides the country into three colours. Pilots must check it before every flight.
| Zone | What it means | Who gives permission |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Up to 400 ft, wherever not marked red or yellow. No flight permission needed. | None |
| Yellow | Controlled airspace: 5–8 km from an operational airport's perimeter from the ground up; above 200 ft between 8 and 12 km; and above 400 ft anywhere. | The air traffic control authority for that airspace (AAI, IAF, Navy or HAL) |
| Red | No-fly areas, including the ground closest to airports and notified sensitive areas such as central Delhi. | Central Government only |
So near an airport, the practical picture is: closest to the runway, no; 5–8 km out, only with ATC permission; 8–12 km out, fine below 200 ft; beyond that, the normal 400 ft green-zone ceiling.
3. What that means for Delhi NCR
- Central Delhi: red. The area around Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament, India Gate and Jantar Mantar is off-limits to private drones without Central Government permission. No official radius is published; check the map.
- IGI Airport (Palam): its rings cover much of south-west Delhi and north Gurugram, including parts of Dwarka, Aerocity, Cyber City and the South Delhi farmhouse belt.
- Safdarjung: closed to public flying since 2002 and used for VVIP helicopters. It sits inside central Delhi's restricted area.
- Hindon (Ghaziabad): an Indian Air Force station that also handles civil flights. Its rings cover parts of Ghaziabad and east Delhi.
- Noida International Airport (Jewar): declared a red zone in October 2024; commercial flights began in June 2026.
4. Police orders and seasonal bans
On top of the airspace map, police can close the sky. Delhi Police issues orders under Section 163 of the BNSS that ban drones, paragliders and other flying objects across the whole city:
- Republic Day: roughly 18 January to early or mid-February (18 Jan–15 Feb in 2024; 18 Jan–1 Feb in 2025).
- Independence Day: roughly 2 to 16 August (2–16 Aug in 2026).
- Summits and VIP visits: for example, 10–14 September 2026 for the BRICS summit.
Police officers of SP rank and above can also declare a temporary red zone for up to 96 hours at a time. Neighbouring districts issue their own orders: Gurugram banned drones from 9 May to 7 July 2025, Haryana imposed a statewide ban in May 2025, and during a 2024 order Faridabad required district permission for wedding drones. In Uttar Pradesh (Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad), drones must be registered with the local police, and operators are expected to inform the police station before flights.
5. How to get permission, step by step
- Find the exact location of the take-off point and the area you want to film.
- Check the zone on the Digital Sky airspace map, at the height you plan to fly.
- Yellow zone: apply to the air traffic control authority for that airspace through the Digital Sky platform, with the drone's UIN and the pilot's RPC. No official lead time is published, so allow several working days.
- Red zone: permission comes only from the Central Government and is rarely given for private shoots. Look for a nearby vantage outside it.
- Check police orders for the date, and in Uttar Pradesh inform the local police station.
- Get the venue's written consent, especially for farmhouses, malls and campuses.
6. Indoor flights
The Drone Rules apply to drones "operated in or over India" and contain no specific exemption for indoor flying; the indoor exemptions often quoted online come from an older regulation that has been replaced. The safe practice for indoor FPV is the same as outdoors: a registered drone, a certified pilot and the venue's written consent.
7. What to ask any drone vendor
- What is the drone's UIN, and does the pilot hold an RPC?
- Is the drone insured for third-party liability?
- Have you checked my venue on the Digital Sky map? What zone is it?
- Who applies for permission, and what happens if it's refused?
- What's the plan if a police ban is announced for my date?
This guide explains the rules as we understand them on 30 September 2026. It is not legal advice. The airspace map and the text of the Rules are the authority, and zones change: the Rules say a change takes effect at least 7 days after the map is updated. Sources: Drone Rules, 2021; PIB note on the airspace map; Digital Sky; Delhi Police and district orders as reported in 2024–2026.