Nagaland got its first Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence at the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre at Kohima. The facility was formally inaugurated yesterday by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as part of the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

 

The state-of-the-art facility is a pioneering initiative of the State GIS and Remote Sensing Centre under the Planning and Transformation Department, which aims at equipping youth with advanced drone technology skills and promoting innovation-driven employment.

 

Inaugurating the drone school, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio described it as a major step towards harnessing modern technology for governance, development, and public service delivery. Commending the department for the initiative, the chief minister said the Drone School would also serve as a hub for innovation and capacity building, enabling the transfer of knowledge to districts and interior areas so that the benefits of technology reach the last mile.

 

He added that the initiative would strengthen Nagaland’s preparedness for future challenges and help position the State as a leader in the effective use of drone technology. 

The Drone School offers DGCA-compliant Remote Pilot Certificate courses along with short-term non-DGCA programmes in FPV flying, drone repair and maintenance, and drone data analysis and mapping.

 

The first batch of 50 trainees sponsored by the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission will commence from today. They will receive free training across multiple specialisations, along with placement assistance and industry linkages. The institution is equipped with classrooms, laboratories, simulators, assembly workshops, and designated flying grounds at Tsiesema and Thizama. It will also function as a Centre of Excellence for UAV research, innovation, and technical support to government departments.