Maharashtra Cabinet approves Unmanned Systems Policy 2026 for drones, robotics and autonomous vehicles

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet,  chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday approved the Maharashtra Unmanned Systems Policy 2026, aimed at promoting the development, manufacturing, research, deployment and maintenance of drones, robots and autonomous vehicles across the state.  It is expected to transform Maharashtra into a leading hub for unmanned systems by attracting investments worth nearly ₹25,000 crore and generating more than one lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities. It considered as a  major push towards emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing,The policy seeks to create a robust ecosystem for research and development, innovation, production, operation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services related to unmanned technologies. It will remain in force for at least five years or until a new policy is introduced.According to the government, unmanned systems have applications across air, land and maritime sectors and can play a critical role in infrastructure monitoring, industrial inspections, agriculture, environmental management, public safety, disaster response, logistics and urban governance.FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe Transforms Maharashtra FDA With Aggressive Crackdown, 359 Arrests In Under A MonthUnder the infrastructure and industrial inspection segment, drones and autonomous systems will be deployed for bridge safety inspections, marine mapping and surveys, highway monitoring, land surveys and aerial inspections of power transmission networks. In agriculture and environmental management, the technology will support soil sample collection, mechanised weed control, crop spraying, forest monitoring, fisheries management and water quality assessment.The policy also highlights the growing role of unmanned systems in public safety and disaster management. Drones will be used for search and rescue operations, industrial leak inspections, river and coastal surveillance, prevention of illegal fishing, disaster mapping, firefighting assistance, crowd management and emergency medical deliveries. Drone ambulances and rapid transportation of medical supplies are among the innovative applications envisioned under the policy.In the logistics and urban management sectors, unmanned systems will facilitate warehouse automation, inventory management, port security, surveillance operations, medicine delivery and maintenance work in hazardous or hard-to-reach locations.Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Rural Drinking Water Policy 2026, Targets Sustainable Water Access For Every Village By 2047To support industry growth and skill development, the government will establish three dedicated Centres of Excellence for unmanned systems. Special emphasis will also be placed on creating a skilled workforce, with plans to train around 5,000 remote pilots.The policy will further strengthen the implementation of the Namo Drone Didi scheme. More than 1,000 women from self-help groups will be trained and certified as drone pilots for agricultural applications, promoting women’s participation in technology-driven farming services.To encourage investments, the state will offer incentives including capital investment support, electricity subsidies, GST reimbursements, stamp duty concessions and patent registration reimbursements. A detailed government resolution outlining eligibility criteria, operational procedures, incentive structures and fund disbursement mechanisms will be issued separately.Officials said the policy reflects Maharashtra’s commitment to embracing next-generation technologies and positioning itself as a national leader in the rapidly expanding unmanned systems sector.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Maharashtra Autonomous Unmanned Policy, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar announced. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.Cabinet approves unmanned policyDuring an interaction with the media, MLA Shelar said, “Today, in the Maharashtra Cabinet, we all together took an important decision. Under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, an important decision was taken by the Maharashtra Cabinet.”Mumbai, Maharashtra: Minister Ashish Shelar says, "Today, in the Maharashtra Cabinet, we all together took an important decision. Under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Suneetra Pawar, an important… pic.twitter.com/W6Y25jmTjk— IANS (@ians_india) June 16, 2026 Meanwhile, Maharashtra is the only state in the country to implement and validate the Maharashtra Autonomous Unmanned Policy. The objective of this policy is to ensure transparency and speedy delivery of new technologies in remote and difficult areas.Focus on innovation and technologyFurther speaking to the media, Ashish Shelar said, “The objective of this policy is to ensure transparency and speedy delivery of new technologies in remote and difficult areas… It will promote the manufacturing, business, innovation, and testing infrastructure for systems such as unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).”The policy is said to attract around Rs 25,000 crore of investment in the state and create over 100,000 jobs. Moreover, nearly five thousand remote pilots will be trained for this field, and the technology will be developed specifically using indigenous technology.To promote the policy, the government of Maharshtra has introduced significant subsidies, including stamp duty and electricity exemptions. Centres of excellence plannedThe government is also planning to establish three centres of excellence for air, ground, and underwater systems. Meanwhile, the Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Department will collaborate with six different NGOs in the near future for smoother operations across the state.Meanwhile, the policy has been seen as a step towards development in remote parts of the state while giving a boost to employment and the economy.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/