Drones and Surveillance Challenges and Legal Regulation Against Drone Crimes in India

The rapid proliferation of drone technology has ushered in new opportunities but also presents significant legal and law enforcement challenges. In India, the legal framework, last updated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) through the Drone Rules, 2021, primarily focuses on civil use of drones, leaving potentialgaps in addressing dronerelated crimes. This paper offers an incisive analysis of these challenges and the gaps in India’s current drone legislation, focusing on criminal activities such as unauthorized surveillance, smuggling, privacy invasion, and trespassing into restricted airspaces. The paper scrutinizes India’s legal readiness to combat drone crimes, identifying potential inadequacies in specific areas including tracking and identification of rogue drones, jurisdictional clarity, technological readiness of law enforcement, regulation of drone import and sales, and drone operator training and awareness. The research further explores global best practices, such as Remote Identification (RID) systems implemented in countries likethe United States and the European Union, and examines their applicability in the Indian context. The goal of this analysis is not onlyto shed light on existing regulatory challenges but also to propose enhancements to the Indian legal framework to better address and mitigate drone-related crimes. The paper concludes with specific recommendations that underline the importance of a technology-informed, multi-pronged approach to update and strengthen India’s legal and enforcement strategies against drone crimes.