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Has the government finally cracked the code on regulating emerging technology? The Drone Rules 2021 display maturity and a willingness to receive and act on feedback from the government. In this blogpost, we discuss how the Drone Rules are an example of a forward thinking and permissive regime that could be a model for otherRead more

The Ministry of Civil Aviation released the National Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Policy Framework (Policy Framework) in October 2021. The Policy Framework sets the basis for the creation of a traffic management mechanism for drones, on which trials will be conducted over the next 6 months. In this blogpost, we highlight the comments thatRead more

The Government of Telangana released the Draft SpaceTech Framework in September 2021. This is the first time a state government has released a policy framework to encourage participation in the space sector. This Blogpost discusses our comments on the Draft Framework, which we have also submitted to the Government of Telangana. The comments highlight theRead more

The 28 GHz frequency band has become hotly contested territory between the cellular communications and the satellite communications industries in recent times. The Department of Telecommunications is the authority responsible for deciding on the allocation of the band and is currently deliberating how it may be used best. This blog post explains why the allocationRead more

The Government released a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturers of drones in India. This scheme seeks to promote the growth of the drone manufacturing sector in India, in conjunction with the Drone Rules 2021. It provides incentives which will see the growth of more indigenous drone and drone component manufacturers, promote foreign investment in the sector andRead more

The Drone Rules, 2021 were released for public consultation by the government on 15th July 2021. The rules came into effect on 25th August 2021 and seek to revamp the regulatory regime for drones. These rules are more permissive and have improved the ease of doing business from the previous two iterations of regulations onRead more

Satellite broadband is increasingly being discussed as a potential game-changer for broadband access in India, with major interest expressed by both Indian and global companies. This post provides an overview of the potential regulatory gaps and issues in India’s current spectrum and telecom licensing requirements, and how they could hinder the deployment of satellite broadbandRead more

The trade of dual-use (civil and military) goods, services and technologies (SCOMET items) are closely scrutinized to ensure that they do not fall into the wrong hands. As a consequence of this, businesses who legitimately deal with such items are also required to pass this scrutiny. We provide an overview of the regulations governing theRead more

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021. We provide a summary of the rules and take a look at some of the key highlights.   In June 2020, the Ministry of Civil Aviation released the draft Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Rules 2020 (UAS Rules or Rules). After seeking comments and holding consultations with stakeholders forRead more

Ikigai Law advised Pixxel Space on their contract to launch their earth observation satellite with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The ISRO chairperson calls this mission “first of its kind,” being the first private remote sensing satellite to launch from India. The satellite will fly on board a polar satellite launch vehicle. The Department of Space hasRead more