Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on January 26 inaugurated the state’s first Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence at the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre (NGISRSC) in Kohima, marking a major step towards technology-led governance and skill development in the state.
The facility was launched as part of the 77th Republic Day celebrations and is an initiative of the State GIS and Remote Sensing Centre under the Planning and Transformation Department. It aims to train young people in advanced drone technology and create innovation-driven employment opportunities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Rio said the initiative underlines Nagaland’s commitment to adopting modern technologies for governance, development and better public service delivery. He pointed out that drones, once largely associated with warfare, are now being increasingly used worldwide for civilian and developmental purposes.
The Chief Minister said the drone school would act as a centre for innovation and capacity building, helping transfer technical expertise to districts and interior areas and ensuring last-mile access to technology. He added that the initiative would also strengthen the state’s preparedness for future challenges and position Nagaland as a front-runner in the effective use of drone technology.
Deputy Chief Ministers T R Zeliang and Y Patton, Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen and Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha were present at the event.
The drone school will offer DGCA-compliant Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) courses, along with short-term non-DGCA programmes covering FPV flying, drone repair and maintenance, and drone-based data analysis and mapping.
The first batch of 50 trainees, sponsored by the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission, will begin training from Tuesday. The trainees will receive free training across multiple specialisations, along with placement support and industry linkages.
The facility will also function as a Centre of Excellence for UAV research, innovation and technical support for government departments. With an allocation of Rs 2.50 crore under the State Plan for 2025–26, the initiative is expected to significantly boost skill development and strengthen governance through drone-enabled services.