1. Introduction

 The programme aims to encourage students to develop advanced drone technologies and strengthen India’s capabilities in indigenous drone innovation. It aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision of promoting self-reliance in emerging technologies and creating a skilled workforce for the rapidly expanding drone ecosystem.

The inaugural edition of NIDAR (2025–26), launched in March 2025, received an enthusiastic response from educational institutions across the country. It attracted 3,448 students from 22 States, 4 Union Territories, and 109 cities, who developed autonomous drone solutions for real-world challenges such as disaster management and precision agriculture. Out of the participating teams, 93 qualified for the Grand Finale, while 24 winning teams received prizes worth a combined ₹40 lakh, highlighting the programme’s success in nurturing innovation among young engineers and researchers.

2. Origin and Intent

Building on the achievements of the first edition, NIDAR 2.0 expands its scope by shifting the focus from developing drone applications to creating the core technologies that power modern drones. The objective is to reduce India’s dependence on imported drone components while encouraging innovation in critical hardware and software systems.

The challenge promotes the development of autonomous drone systems, indigenous avionics, advanced flight control technologies, AI-enabled drone intelligence, and Indian-designed semiconductor-based solutions. A key emphasis is placed on the use of the VEGA processor, an indigenous microprocessor developed under the Ministry’s Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) initiative. Through this approach, the programme seeks to build expertise in the complete drone technology value chain—from processors and embedded systems to autonomous navigation and intelligent decision-making.

3. Key Amendments

One of the major changes in NIDAR 2.0 is the introduction of two specialised competition tracks, allowing students to work on both complete drone systems and critical drone components.

1. Drone Innovation Track

Under this track, participants will design and develop fully autonomous drones capable of performing complex missions without continuous human intervention. The competition focuses on practical applications such as disaster response, survivor detection during emergencies, delivery of medical supplies to inaccessible areas, navigation in GPS-denied environments, and coordinated swarm drone operations. These challenges reflect real-world scenarios where autonomous drones can significantly improve efficiency and save lives.

2. Component Innovation Track

This newly introduced track encourages participants to develop the core technologies that enable drone operations. Students will work on indigenous flight controllers, autopilot systems, drone control electronics, and embedded systems based on the VEGA processor. To support innovation, the top 100 shortlisted teams will receive VEGA processor development kits, enabling them to test, refine, and integrate their hardware and software solutions into functional drone platforms.

4. Impact

NIDAR 2.0 is expected to strengthen India’s drone ecosystem by encouraging research, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration. By focusing on indigenous technologies, the programme supports the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat and complements the government’s efforts to build domestic capabilities in electronics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

The initiative will help students gain hands-on experience in designing sophisticated drone technologies while preparing them for careers in aerospace, defence, robotics, artificial intelligence, and embedded systems. In the long term, the programme can contribute to reducing import dependence on critical drone components, fostering innovation-led startups, and improving India’s global competitiveness in drone technology.

5. Conclusion

NIDAR 2.0 represents a significant step towards building a self-reliant and innovation-driven drone ecosystem in India. By encouraging students to develop both autonomous drones and indigenous core technologies, the initiative goes beyond application development to strengthen the country’s technological foundations. With its emphasis on advanced research, AI integration, and domestic semiconductor-based solutions, NIDAR 2.0 is expected to nurture the next generation of innovators and accelerate India’s emergence as a global leader in drone technology.