29/10/2025 | BhuMeet Editorial Team
Drone-as-a-Service in India: Pay Per Use, Not Purchase
Why DaaS Turns Drones into Recurring Revenue
Hardware-heavy businesses often scare investors: high capex, slow payback, and poor utilization. India’s drone market could have gone that way — but it didn’t. Why? Because of Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS). By converting drone ownership into on-demand services, Indian startups are unlocking margins, scale, and recurring revenues.
In my view, DaaS is the model that makes India’s billion-dollar drone opportunity truly investable. Farmers don’t buy drones; they pay per acre for spraying. Logistics firms don’t own fleets; they book deliveries per km. Healthcare NGOs don’t worry about capex; they rent drones for critical missions.
For the overall drone market outlook and sector TAM, see our Pillar Blog: Rising Drone Uses in Different Industries in India. This article zooms in on DaaS — the model reshaping how drones are deployed, monetized, and scaled.
Market Opportunity: TAM and Growth
The Indian UAV market is one of the fastest growing globally.
- Conservative Forecast: USD 0.47B in 2025 → USD 1.39B in 2030 (CAGR 24.4%) (PR Newswire).
- Bullish Forecast: USD 1.58B in 2024 → USD 4.83B in 2030 (CAGR 20.4%) (Grand View Research).
- Agriculture Segment: USD 145M in 2024 → USD 631M in 2030 (CAGR 28.1%) (Grand View Research).
What’s interesting here is that India’s CAGR (20–28%) is three times the global average (~7–8%). For investors, that signals disproportionate upside.
How DaaS Works: Real Stories from India
DaaS in Farming: Cutting Costs, Boosting Yields
- Garuda Aerospace: Farmers report drones cut spraying costs (manual ~₹1,000/acre vs drone ~₹400–500/acre).
- Scale: Garuda trained 500 women pilots under Namo Drone Didi and delivered 446 drones to SHGs.
- Impact: A drone can spray 30–40 acres/day, saving labor and chemicals while boosting yields.
💡 Investor Takeaway: Agriculture DaaS alone could exceed USD 800M (₹66,400 Cr) by 2030.
DaaS in Infra: Faster, Cheaper Land Surveys
- SVAMITVA Program: 67,000 km² mapped, 300,000 villages covered (PIB).
- Efficiency: Surveys that took months now take days.
- Private Sector: Builders and state governments increasingly outsource surveys to DSPs.
💡 Investor Takeaway: Infrastructure DaaS generates recurring, stable revenues.
DaaS in Logistics: Faster, Smarter Deliveries
- TSAW Drones partnered with Tata 1mg to deliver medical samples (6 kg payload, 100 km range).
- Swiggy & Dunzo pilots: BVLOS trials cut delivery times by ~50% (Economic Times).
- Scale Proof: TSAW’s Droneco completed 8,200+ successful deliveries.
💡 Investor Takeaway: Logistics DaaS could unlock USD 200–300M TAM by 2030 once BVLOS approvals mature.
DaaS in Healthcare: Life-Saving Deliveries
- Medicine from the Sky (Telangana/Arunachal): ~650 flights, 10,000+ vaccine deliveries, cutting delivery times from 8 hours to 22 minutes (World Economic Forum).
- High-Altitude Ops: Drones now reach PHCs at 12,000 ft in the Himalayas.
💡 Investor Takeaway: Smaller TAM (USD 100–150M by 2030), but high social impact + blended finance appeal.
The Economics: Why DaaS Wins for Investors
Agriculture Spraying Model:
- Service Fee: ₹300–500/acre (Farmonaut Pricing Guide).
- Efficiency: 30–40 acres/day.
- Revenue: ~₹20,000/day → ~₹6L/month (30 days).
- Margins: 25–35%.
Scale Example:
- 10 drones = ~₹5–6 Cr annual revenue.
- 100 drones = ₹50–60 Cr, acquisition-ready scale.
Logistics Model:
- Revenue per delivery: ₹200–500/km.
- Higher utilization = stronger margins.
Software Leverage:
Platforms like BhuMeet SaaS streamline scheduling, billing, and utilization tracking — letting DSPs scale like SaaS firms.
Policy Boosts: How India Backs Drone Services
- PLI Scheme (2021): ₹120 Cr for domestic manufacturing (PIB).
- Upcoming Incentive (2025): ₹2,000 Cr over 3 years (Reuters).
- Namo Drone Didi (2024–26): ₹1,261 Cr for 15,000 SHGs; 80% subsidies (PIB).
- GST Reform (2025): Cut to 5% for drones (PIB).
- DGCA Rules: Simplified licensing, DigitalSky platform, BVLOS trials.
Risks Investors Should Watch in DaaS
- Regulatory Delays: BVLOS rules still under exemptions.
- Import Dependence: Motors, chips, cameras largely imported.
- Skill Gaps: Shortage of certified pilots.
- Subsidy Reliance: Overdependence on govt schemes.
- Competition: Margins may erode unless DSPs differentiate.
Investor Exits: IPOs, Acquisitions, SaaS Multiples
- IPOs: IdeaForge IPO (2023) raised ~₹550 Cr, valued ~₹2,000 Cr.
- M&A: HAL with Garuda Aerospace; Tata Advanced Systems building drone hubs.
- Valuations: DaaS + SaaS = 8–12x revenues; IdeaForge valued ~US$250M pre-IPO.
Investor Key Takeaways
Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) in India offers:
- 📈 Market Size: USD 200–300M TAM by 2030.
- 💰 Unit Economics: ₹300–500/acre spraying; ₹20,000/day per drone; 25–35% margins.
- 🏛 Policy Support: Namo Drone Didi (₹1,261 Cr), PLI, GST cuts, DGCA reforms.
- 🚀 Exit Options: IPOs (IdeaForge, Garuda), M&A (HAL, Tata), SaaS multiples (8–12x).
- 🌍 Sectors Covered: Agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, healthcare.
👉 In my view, DaaS is one of the rare tech models in India where investors can see returns today and exponential upside tomorrow.
Final Word: Why Investors Should Bet on DaaS
India’s shift from ownership to on-demand drone services is transforming agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, and healthcare.
For investors, the thesis is clear:
- Large & growing TAM.
- Attractive unit economics.
- Strong policy push.
- Visible exits.
Call to Action:
The first wave of India’s drone industry was about policy and pilots. The second wave — led by DaaS — is about scale, revenues, and investor exits. Platforms like BhuMeet SaaS will power this growth. Investors who act now won’t just fund drone flights — they’ll own a stake in India’s billion-dollar aerial economy.
