Noida : From disaster-hit zones to farmlands, drones are being tested for real-world deployment as students from across India participate in the final phase of the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR) 2026 at Gautam Buddha University (GBU) in Greater Noida.The seven-day event, which concludes on Jan 16, has brought together over 3,500 students and more than 350 teams from institutions nationwide. Organised by the Drone Federation India in collaboration with the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), the challenge focuses on practical drone applications in disaster response and precision agriculture.
Officials said NIDAR focuses on real-world challenges that reflect the growing use of drones in governance, agriculture and disaster management. “After multiple evaluation rounds, 150 teams advanced to the Final Mission phase. The teams are now working on advanced applications in disaster management, including geotagging, search and rescue support and emergency medical delivery, as well as in precision agriculture, with tasks such as autonomous navigation, crop health assessment and identification of low-productivity crop zones,” said a senior official from the organising committee.Many participants cited recent natural disasters and agrarian distress as the sources of their motivation. “When we saw visuals of villages in Punjab and other flood-hit states cut off for days, we felt drones could be the fastest way to drop medicines and food where boats or vehicles cannot reach,” said a participant. Another participant working on agricultural applications said their aim was to help farmers make timely decisions. “If we can map crop stress early and flag areas where yields are likely to fail, it can save an entire season for small farmers. Our technology should reach the field, not remain in the lab,” the participant said.According to organisers, each team was tasked with deploying two drones operating autonomously and in coordination. In disaster scenarios, one drone identifies affected areas and requirements, while the other delivers supplies. In agriculture, paired drones assess crop conditions and productivity. Teams demonstrating the highest precision and accuracy will be shortlisted for awards.Drone Federation India president Smit Shah said the challenge is designed to encourage mission-oriented innovation aligned with national priorities. “When students work on disaster relief and precision farming, they are directly contributing to India’s strategic and industrial goals,” he said.Economic advisor to MeitY, Preeti Nath, said NIDAR is helping build a skilled talent base in unmanned systems, which is critical to India’s technological future. “It is the country’s first national-level drone innovation challenge of this scale, aimed at enabling young engineers to contribute directly to India’s digital growth and strategic self-reliance,” Nath said.GBU vice-chancellor professor Rana Pratap Singh said the platform enables students to translate classroom learning into practical solutions. “It prepares them to think, design and deploy technologies that can make a tangible difference during disasters and in strengthening food security,” Singh added.
