Drones have become increasingly popular for recreational, commercial, and industrial purposes. However, with the rise in drone usage, regulatory bodies like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India have introduced strict guidelines to ensure safety and security. One such requirement is the Unique Identification Number (UIN) for drones.
In this blog, we’ll explore what a UIN is, why it’s necessary, and how drone operators can obtain one.
Drone Categories
- Nano Drones (≤ 250 grams) — Lightweight drones and need no license or registration.
- Micro Drones (251g — 2 kg) — Registration is required for commercial use.
- Small Drones (2 kg — 25 kg) — Registration is mandatory.
- Medium Drones (25 kg — 150 kg) — Because of the increased safety and privacy hazards associated with their size and prospective uses, operating medium is subject to tougher laws.
- Large Drones (>150 kg) — Because of the increased safety and privacy hazards associated with their size and prospective uses, operating large uavs is subject to tougher laws.
Figure 1: Drone Categories in India
What is UIN?
The Unique Identification Number (UIN) is a registration requirement for anyone looking to operate drones in India. The UIN number is a distinctive identifier for each drone. It functions like a license plate for vehicles linking it to the owner in official records. It is essential for ensuring accountability and facilitating easier regulation of drone activities.
Figure 2: Drone with UIN Number
Is UIN Mandatory for All Drones?
Not for all. Here’s the eligibility:
- Micro, Small, and Medium Drones (>250g to ≤150kg): UIN is mandatory.
- Imported Drones or those without Type Certification cannot get a UIN and are not allowed to operate.
Why is UIN Important?
- Legal Compliance: Flying a drone without UIN (if required) is illegal and can lead to penalties.
- Tracking & Safety: Helps authorities track drones in case of incidents or airspace violations.
- Required for Permissions: To apply for any flight permissions via Digital Sky, a UIN is mandatory.
- Proof of Ownership: Establishes rightful ownership and acts as drone identity.
Step-by-Step Process to Register Your Drone
Figure 3: Registering drone through DGCA website
- 1. Obtain a Digital Sky Account
- Visit the official portal: https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in
- Register as an operator (Individual or Organization).
2. Apply for a Unique Identification Number (UIN)
There are 2 ways to generate UIN Number.
Apply UIN for cases exempted from Type Certificate (Model or a Nano UAS)
- Organisations can create manufacturer account and profile on DigitalSky platform, if not already created.
- Login to DigitalSky platform and Select ‘Add Exempted Model’ menu option from the dashboard
- Fill all mandatory details of your Exempted UAS model and add your model on Digital Sky Platform
- Once model is added, Individual/Organisation user can Add UAS Serial Number from dashboard, for the added UAS Model.
- User can Click Apply for UIN for the added UAS serial number
- Preview the Application for Registration of UIN, Pay ₹100 fee and Submit Form D-2 (Application for Unique Identification Number) Upon successful receipt of requisite fee, the UIN will be generated.
- Apply for UAS which is Type Certified model
- Create your account and profile on Digital Sky platform, if not already created.
- Login to Digital Sky platform and add your UAS Serial Number from dashboard.
- Navigate to the list of UAS and Apply for UIN for the added UAS serial number
- Preview the Application for Registration of UIN (Unique Identification Number)
- Pay ₹100 fee and complete the submission of Form D-2 (Application for Unique Identification Number)
- Upon successful receipt of requisite fee, the UIN will be generated.
Flying Without UIN? Think Again.
Using a drone without UIN (when it’s legally required) may lead to:
- Heavy fines
- Drone confiscation
- Ban from flying operations
Figure 4: Using a drone without UIN (when it’s legally required)
How to check if your done has UIN number?
To check if your drone has a UIN (Unique Identification Number) in India, follow these steps:
1. Check the Drone Surface
Most drones with UINs issued by the DGCA have the UIN printed or affixed visibly on the base frame.
It usually looks like: UXXXXXX.
2. Log into the Digital Sky Platform
Visit: https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in
Under Issued UINs tab you can search by either class/owner/model
For Eg Surveyaan — a brand of Nibrus Technologies is a drone manufacturing company in India which has type certified models. Surveyaan have a drone model named Surveyaan V1. To check if any drones have UIN number you can search company name/model name in the search tab.
Figure 5: UIN under DGCA
This brings us to the end of the blog. I hope this article gained some knowledge for you!
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for reading.
About SurveyGyaan
SurveyGyaan is an educational initiative under the Surveyaan brand, which is a subsidiary of Nibrus Technologies Private Limited. Surveyaan specializes in drone manufacturing and the development of photogrammetry software.
Surveypod: www.surveypod.in (DGNSS Manufacturer Website)
Surveyaan: www.surveyaan.com (Drone Manufacturer Website)
Surveyaan Geoworkspace: app.surveyaan.com (Cloud Photogrammetry Software Website)
