Chennai/Goa, 18 August 2026: In a major push toward rural technological empowerment, IPO-bound drone technology company Garuda Aerospace has partnered with the Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC) and the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C). Together, they are supporting the government’s broader ‘Drone Didi’ initiative, marking a significant milestone in India’s drone ecosystem.
The initiative aims to train 100 women every financial year in Goa, creating a formidable workforce of 300 certified women drone pilots over the next three years, subject to statewide approval by DITE&C.
Empowering the ‘Special 12’
The program is already taking flight. The first cohort of 12 women—officially recognized as the ‘Special 12’ by the Goa IT Minister—has successfully completed intensive training. Their curriculum covered essential aerospace skills, including:
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Flight simulation
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Drone assembly and maintenance
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Safety protocols
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Practical flying operations
To mark their graduation, the newly trained ‘Drone Didis’ demonstrated their independent flying skills before the Minister, showcasing their readiness to integrate into the tech-driven workforce.
Bridging the Gender Gap in Technology
The partnership is a strategic move to leverage drone technology to strengthen rural livelihoods, promote women-led entrepreneurship, and build a digitally empowered state.
“The Drone Didi initiative is a powerful example of how technology can become an enabler of economic independence and social transformation,” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO of Garuda Aerospace. “By equipping women with certified drone skills, we are enabling them to become technology users, service providers, and entrepreneurs in their own right. The training of Goa’s first 12 Drone Didis is an important milestone in building a more inclusive and technology-driven drone ecosystem.”
Garuda Aerospace’s Growing National Impact
Garuda Aerospace’s skilling efforts leverage its robust infrastructure as one of India’s largest Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs). The company has garnered significant attention, notably with Indian cricket legend MS Dhoni backing the firm and personally receiving drone pilot training from them.
Beyond Goa, the company is actively democratizing access to drone technology across India:
Government Partnerships: Collaborations with the Rural Electrification Corporation (REIL) and multiple Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes (FMTTIs).
Targeted Outreach: Offering free drone pilot training for widows and wives of armed forces personnel.
2024 Milestones: Trained over 500 rural women in drone technology and delivered 446 drones to women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across 20 states under the ‘Namo Drone Didi Yojana’.
Job Creation: Generated over 3,500 jobs, including roles for pilots and technicians, directly supporting India’s growing drone economy.
By transforming rural women into certified pilots and tech entrepreneurs, Garuda Aerospace and the Goa government are proving that the future of India’s agriculture and tech sectors is not just automated, but inclusive.
