Drone Pilot

Flying drones to map land and villages, spray crops, shoot photos and video, inspect towers and power lines, and survey sites. Checking the drone, planning the flight and handling the data are part of the job.

A day in the work
You start by checking the weather, the airspace map and the day's job, say mapping a farm or inspecting a tower. You charge batteries, check the drone's propellers and GPS, and walk the site for hazards like wires and people. Then you fly the planned route, keeping the drone in sight, and land when the battery is low. In the afternoon you copy the images, tag them, and send a clean file to the client, and you log the flight.

1. Step 1 · Class 10Pass Class 10 from a recognised board. This is the minimum education for a Remote Pilot Certificate. You cannot take the certificate before you turn 18, so use these years to learn and prepare.
2. Step 2 · Class 11–12Study any stream. Physics and Maths help with flight, batteries and mapping. If you prefer a hands-on trade, you can instead join the 6-month Drone Pilot (Junior) course at an ITI after Class 10 (Science and Maths needed, age 18 or above).
3. Step 3 · Age 18Choose a DGCA-authorised RPTO. Check that it is on the DGCA's list before you pay. Keep your Aadhaar or another government ID and address proof ready. Some schools also ask for a medical fitness certificate.
4. Step 4 · About 5–8 daysDo the training: classroom (ground) lessons, simulator practice, then hands-on flying with an instructor and solo. You are assessed at every phase. There is a written test and a flying skill test.
5. Step 5 · After you passThe RPC is issued through the DGCA's eGCA portal and is valid for 10 years. Check the category on it (for example Small or Medium), because you can only fly drones in your category.
6. Step 6 · First jobsBuild flying hours and one specialty, such as survey mapping, crop spraying, inspection or video. Many pilots start on short contracts or freelance work. Employers usually care about data skills and reliability as much as the certificate. (reported — check with the official body)
7. OptionalA diploma or degree in a related field (surveying, agriculture, GIS, electronics or engineering) opens more technical roles.

• Direct RPTO course (most common)Who: Anyone aged 18 or above with Class 10 pass A 5–8 day DGCA-approved course, then the RPC. This is the fastest way in.
• ITI or NSTI Drone Pilot (Junior)Who: Class 10 pass with Science and Maths, or a vocational subject in the same sector; age 18 or above A 6-month (600-hour) government trade course that covers DGCA training. You get a National Trade Certificate from the Directorate General of Training. Seats are limited and offered at only some ITIs.
• Women's self-help group route (Namo Drone Didi)Who: One selected member of a women's self-help group under DAY-NRLM A 15-day pilot and agri-spraying training that comes as part of the group's drone package, at a DGCA-authorised RPTO. Selection is by the state, not an open application.

Fees from: Kaushalya – The Skill University: Drone Pilot course · PIB (Mar 2026): Namo Drone Didi package includes 15 days' pilot training · Kaushalya – The Skill University, eligibility/fee PDF · NSTI Chennai, New Age Courses fee table · NSTI Hyderabad, CTS admission notification 2024–25 (PDF) · NSTI Hyderabad, Courses Offered and fee details · DGT Drone Pilot (Junior) curriculum PDF. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Earnings vary a lot: new certificate holders often begin with short contracts or freelance days, while pilots who also handle mapping data, spraying or inspections, and work for established companies, usually earn more steadily.

Women can use the Namo Drone Didi scheme: one selected member of a women's self-help group gets 15 days of pilot training, and the group gets an 80% subsidy on the drone (up to ₹8 lakh). The scheme was approved for 2023-24 to 2025-26, so check whether it has been extended. The ITI Drone Pilot (Junior) curriculum lists several categories of disability as eligible, including deaf, low vision and hard of hearing. Some training schools ask for a medical fitness certificate, so ask the school before you pay.

• Class 7–9Build a simple paper or foam glider and test how changing the wing size or weight changes how far it flies. Write down what you see.
• Class 10–12Take the free Drone Developer Certification Programme on the Skill India Digital Hub to learn how drones are built and controlled. It takes about 150 hours, so spread it over a few months.Open link ↗
• College or afterLook through the list of ITIs and NSTIs that offer the Drone Pilot (Junior) or Drone Technician trade, and see whether one is near you.Open link ↗

• Small toy drones up to 250 grams, and small drones up to 2 kg flown only for fun, do not need an RPC. Flying for money needs the certificate whatever the drone size.
• Many schools say they "follow the DGCA syllabus". That is not the same as being DGCA-authorised. Check the school's authorisation on the DGCA's official list.
• A certificate lets you fly legally. It does not by itself get you a job. Pilots who also learn mapping software, spraying or inspection work have more options.
• Interested in flying but also in the technical side? Look at GIS and remote sensing, surveying, or electronics too.