Drones are Buzzing

The second version of Mehar Baba Competition-II (MBC), steered by the IAF and launched on 6 April 2022 by the defence minister with theme ‘Swarm Drone Based System to Detect Foreign Objects on Aircraft Operating Surfaces’ was concluded on 29 July 24.

Four out of initial 129 applicants, were shortlisted as finalists after rigorous assessments by a nominated committee of experts (CoE). It comprised domain experts from IAF as well as civil institutes. The competition was held in four phases of which last phase was conducted in July 24. Based on the assessment, Ayaan Autonomous Systems Pvt Ltd, Pune and Fleet RF Pvt Ltd, Greater Noida were declared winner and first runner up respectively in February 2025.

The IAF is undertaking niche technology development in the domain of unmanned and autonomous aerial vehicles through its innovative initiative Mehar Baba Competition (MBC). The MBC is forerunner in bridging the gap between Indian industry, academia, and users by providing them common platforms.

The competition has successfully forged a robust ecosystem, resulting in the capture of orders amounting more than thousand cores over the past three years from various industries including armed forces. This economic success is not just a testament to the MBC-II competitiveness but also underscores the potential for significant growth in the drone sector. An equally commendable achievement is the employment generation of thousands of individuals, predominantly fresh graduates from colleges and academia. The competition is guiding the way for future advancements in UAV technology which would reinforce India’s position on the global stage.

Capability Assessment Workshop on Autonomous Systems Concludes at IIT Kanpur

The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), hosted a Capability Assessment Workshop on Drones and Autonomous Systems from 24–25 February 2025. The event brought together 44 distinguished attendees from government organisations, the armed forces, industry, and academic and research institutions, reinforcing IIT Kanpur’s position as India’s leading integrated drone technology hub.

The workshop saw active participation from representatives of MP-IDSA, the Uttar Pradesh Government, CSIR-NAL, DGCA, NAQAS, DGQA, ADB, IAF, army, navy, MHA, DACIDS, ADE, BSF, DRDO, and startups working in the drone technology ecosystem. It aimed to establish a comprehensive ecosystem for drone design, development, testing, certification, and training, aligning with India's strategic goal of achieving self-reliance in critical defence technologies.

Delivering the welcome address director of IIT Kanpur Prof. Manindra Agrawal said, “India aims to become a global hub for drone technology, with strong government support driving this vision. Certification, testing, and R&D are key pillars in realising this goal. IIT Kanpur has the infrastructure to facilitate these efforts, including an airstrip, flight lab, and prototyping facilities that can help with drone design and production on campus. Several drones have already been designed and manufactured at IIT Kanpur, with some handed over to the de