Maharashtra government announced to set up a ministerial task force under Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence department with aim for implementation of the State’s drone policy.

“The policy need is to strengthen existing drone ecosystem and for that government has to assist the existing companies as well attracting new investments,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

The State’s Electronics, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Minister, Ashish Shelar will chair the task force.

The decision was taken in the wake of conflicts in the policy’s drafting and procedural delays. The industry stakeholders raised the concerns like lack of competitive incentives compared to other States.

The decision was made on Thursday (August 13, 2026) at the meeting held drone manufacturing companies representatives at Sahyadri Guest House in Malabar Hill in Mumbai.

During the meeting, Mr. Fadnavis asked for a “policy of policies” by consolidating several provisions from State policies covering research and development (R&D).

Earlier, BJP leader Dhananjay Mahadik wrote a letter to the Chief Minister to set up an inquiry into an alleged conflict of interest involving consultants engaged in drafting it as it can affect local businesses, drone training operators and women entrepreneurs. The agenda of meeting was to address this issue and to seek suggestions and expectations of industry stakeholders. Two months ago in June, Maharashtra Automated Systems Policy 2026 was approved, targeting ₹25,000 crore investment, generating over 1,00,000 jobs.

The work of developing ‘Drone City’ in the Industrial City area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar should be accelerated, Mr. Fadnavis instructed to the officials, saying that a special incentive policy should be considered for the next two-three years to provide land for the drone industry through the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation.

Published - August 15, 2026 03:33 am IST