The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Drone Federation India (DFI) have introduced the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR 2.0) for 2026-27. This initiative falls under the SwaYaan project and aims to enhance indigenous drone technologies and autonomous systems. The launch event took place at Electronics Niketan in New Delhi, bringing together students, educators, government representatives, and industry experts from various regions.
MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan unveiled the problem statements, poster, and rulebook for NIDAR 2.0 during the event. Krishnan highlighted that this edition of the challenge signifies a transition from drone operation to the development of their core intelligence using local technology. He emphasized the importance of moving beyond just flying drones to creating the drone’s brain, powered by India’s VEGA processor.
The VEGA processor, a product of the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) program by MeitY, aims to reduce India’s reliance on foreign chip designs and associated costs. The event also featured speeches by Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary at MeitY and CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission, Tulika Pandey from MeitY, and Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation India. Representatives from various ministries, academia, and industry sectors were also in attendance.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition in March 2025, NIDAR 2.0 expands the competition’s scope significantly. The first edition attracted thousands of students from multiple states and Union Territories who developed autonomous drone solutions for disaster management and precision agriculture. The new edition focuses on autonomous systems, indigenous avionics, and core drone components through two competition tracks.
