UPSRLM Drone Didi Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for 30 Posts

UPSRLM Drone Didi Yojana Recruitment 2026 - Overview

The Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), also known as "Aajeevika", operating under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, has announced a pioneering recruitment initiative under the innovative "Drone Didi" scheme for Kanpur Dehat district. This groundbreaking program aims to engage 30 women candidates who will be trained to operate drones for agricultural purposes, marking a significant step towards women empowerment, technological advancement in agriculture, and rural livelihood enhancement. The Drone Didi initiative is part of the Government of India's vision to modernize Indian agriculture through precision farming, reduce dependency on manual labor for pesticide spraying, minimize health hazards associated with direct exposure to agricultural chemicals, and empower rural women with high-tech skills that can generate sustainable income opportunities.

Understanding the Drone Didi Scheme

The Drone Didi scheme represents a transformative approach to rural women's economic empowerment by combining modern technology with traditional agricultural practices. Under this innovative program, selected women from rural areas will receive comprehensive training in drone operation, maintenance, and agricultural spray applications. These trained "Drone Didis" will provide drone-based agricultural services to farmers in their respective areas, including precision spraying of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and liquid fertilizers, crop health monitoring and assessment, land surveying and mapping, and soil analysis support. The scheme addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: it provides livelihood opportunities to rural women, reduces farmers' costs and crop losses, minimizes health risks associated with manual spraying, improves efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural operations, and promotes adoption of modern agricultural technologies at the grassroots level. Drone Didis will typically charge farmers on a per-acre basis for their services, generating regular income while providing valuable support to the farming community. The program also includes provisions for providing drones to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through subsidies, ensuring that the initial investment barrier is minimized.

Eligibility Criteria for Drone Didi Posts

To be eligible for selection as Drone Didi under UPSRLM Kanpur Dehat recruitment, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:

Gender Requirement: Only women candidates are eligible to apply for this scheme. This exclusive focus on women aligns with the scheme's core objective of women's economic empowerment and social upliftment.

Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed 10th class (High School) examination from a recognized Board. This ensures basic literacy and numeracy skills necessary for understanding training materials, operating technology, and managing business transactions.

Age Limit: Candidates must be between 18 to 50 years of age as on the closing date of application. This wide age bracket ensures inclusivity, allowing both young women starting their professional journey and mature women seeking alternative livelihoods to participate.

Residential Requirement: Candidates must be permanent residents of Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh. Preference may be given to candidates from rural areas and those associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) registered under UPSRLM.

Membership Requirement: While not explicitly mandatory, preference is generally given to women who are active members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) formed under UPSRLM/National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). SHG members typically have experience in collective decision-making, financial management, and community mobilization, which are valuable for operating Drone Didi services effectively.

Physical and Mental Fitness: Candidates should be physically and mentally fit to undergo training and operate drones, which requires hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, and ability to work in outdoor agricultural settings under varying weather conditions.

Willingness to Serve: Candidates must demonstrate genuine willingness to serve the farming community, adopt new technologies, undergo rigorous training, and commit to providing drone services in rural areas as a livelihood activity.

Selection Process and Training

The selection process for Drone Didi recruitment involves multiple stages designed to identify motivated and capable candidates:

Stage 1 - Application Scrutiny: All applications received will be scrutinized to verify eligibility criteria including educational qualification, age, residential status, and completeness of application with required documents.

Stage 2 - Shortlisting: Eligible candidates will be shortlisted based on criteria such as educational qualifications, SHG membership status, economic background (preference to BPL families and disadvantaged sections), motivation and commitment demonstrated in the application, and representation from different blocks/areas to ensure equitable distribution.

Stage 3 - Personal Interview/Interaction: Shortlisted candidates will be called for personal interaction where their communication skills, understanding of agriculture, motivation for joining the scheme, and aptitude for technology adoption will be assessed. The interview panel typically includes UPSRLM officials, district administration representatives, and subject matter experts.

Stage 4 - Final Selection: Based on overall performance and merit, 30 candidates will be finally selected for the Drone Didi program.

Comprehensive Training Program: Selected Drone Didis will undergo extensive training covering theoretical and practical aspects of drone operation. The training curriculum includes basics of drone technology and components, flight controls and navigation, safety protocols and regulations, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines for drone operation, agricultural spray application techniques, calculation of pesticide/fertilizer quantities, weather assessment for flying operations, basic troubleshooting and maintenance, entrepreneurship and business management, customer service and communication skills, and financial management for service-based enterprises. The training is typically conducted by certified drone training institutes empaneled by the government and may last 2-4 weeks depending on the depth of coverage. Upon successful completion, candidates receive certification from DGCA (if applicable) and UPSRLM, qualifying them to legally operate drones for commercial agricultural purposes.

Post-Training Support and Benefits

Once trained and certified, Drone Didis receive comprehensive support from UPSRLM and government programs:

Drone Provision: Under various government schemes, drones are provided to selected Self-Help Groups at highly subsidized rates or through grants. The typical cost of an agricultural drone suitable for spraying operations ranges from Rs. 5-10 lakhs, but through government subsidies (up to 75-100% for eligible categories), the actual burden on beneficiaries is minimal.

Income Generation: Drone Didis can earn substantial income by providing agricultural spray services. The typical market rate for drone-based spraying is Rs. 300-600 per acre depending on crop type and service complexity. With efficient operation, a Drone Didi can cover 15-25 acres per day, generating daily earnings of Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 15,000. After accounting for operational costs (battery charging, maintenance, pesticide procurement if applicable), the net income is still significant and provides year-round livelihood opportunities during agricultural seasons.

Marketing and Linkages: UPSRLM assists Drone Didis in connecting with farmers through awareness campaigns, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), agricultural extension networks, and digital platforms. District and block-level agriculture departments often provide client referrals and facilitate service contracts.

Technical Support: Ongoing technical support for drone maintenance, repairs, spare parts procurement, and troubleshooting is provided through empaneled vendors and UPSRLM support systems.

Capacity Building: Periodic refresher trainings, exposure visits to successful Drone Didi entrepreneurs in other districts/states, and skill upgradation workshops are organized to enhance capabilities.

Financial Assistance: Access to credit linkages through banks and microfinance institutions is facilitated for working capital requirements, drone upgrades, or expansion of services.

Insurance Coverage: Drones provided under government schemes typically come with insurance coverage for initial period, protecting against damages or losses due to accidents or technical failures.

Application Process and Required Documents

Interested and eligible women candidates must apply through the offline mode by submitting the prescribed application form:

Step 1 - Obtain Application Form: Download the application form from the official UPSRLM website (www.upsrlm.org) or collect it from the District Mission Management Unit (DMMU) office, Kanpur Dehat, or Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) offices in respective blocks.

Step 2 - Fill Application Form: Fill the application form completely and accurately with all required information including personal details, educational qualifications, residential address, SHG membership details (if applicable), bank account information, and contact details. The form must be filled in clear handwriting or typed.

Step 3 - Attach Required Documents: Attach self-attested photocopies of the following documents: Recent passport-size photograph pasted on the application form, Age proof (10th class certificate, birth certificate, or Aadhaar card), Educational qualification certificate (10th class mark sheet and certificate), Residential proof (Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Ration card, or domicile certificate), Caste certificate (if belonging to SC/ST/OBC category), Self-Help Group membership certificate (if applicable), Bank account details (passbook copy showing account number and IFSC code), Mobile number and email ID (if available), and any other document as specified in the official notification.

Step 4 - Submit Application: Submit the completed application form along with all documents at the following address: District Mission Manager, Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), District Mission Management Unit, Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh. Applications can be submitted in person during office hours (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on working days) at the UPSRLM district office or Block Mission Management Unit offices. Alternatively, applications can be sent by registered post/speed post, but candidates must ensure that applications reach the office before the closing date.

Step 5 - Acknowledgment: Candidates submitting applications in person should obtain an acknowledgment receipt with date and signature. For postal applications, keep the postal receipt for reference.

Important Dates

Application Start Date: 22nd January 2026

Application Last Date: 10th February 2026

Last Date for Receipt of Applications by Post: 10th February 2026 (by 5:00 PM)

Shortlist Announcement: Expected by 15th February 2026 (approximate)

Interview/Interaction Date: To be notified to shortlisted candidates separately

Final Selection Announcement: Expected by end of February 2026

Training Commencement: Expected in March 2026

Candidates are advised to submit applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute rush or postal delays. The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change; candidates should regularly check the official UPSRLM website and district office notice board for updates.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates must carefully note the following terms and conditions:

1. Application must be in the prescribed format only; applications in any other format will not be accepted.

2. All information provided in the application must be accurate and verifiable; false information will lead to disqualification and legal action.

3. Candidates must possess all required documents and certificates at the time of application; candidates without proper documentation will not be considered.

4. Selected candidates must compulsorily attend and successfully complete the entire training program; failure to attend training will result in cancellation of selection.

5. After training, Drone Didis are expected to actively provide agricultural drone services in their areas; the scheme is not a salaried employment but a livelihood opportunity requiring entrepreneurial effort.

6. Drones provided under the scheme are assets of the SHG/collective and must be maintained properly and used responsibly for agricultural purposes only.

7. Drone Didis must comply with all DGCA regulations, safety norms, and legal requirements for drone operations.

8. UPSRLM reserves the right to modify, cancel, or alter any aspect of the recruitment process without prior notice and without assigning any reason.

9. Decision of UPSRLM/District Administration regarding selection and all recruitment-related matters shall be final and binding.

10. No TA/DA will be provided for attending interview or training within the district.

Significance and Impact of Drone Didi Scheme

The Drone Didi initiative represents a paradigm shift in rural development strategy by combining women empowerment with agricultural modernization. The scheme addresses critical challenges in Indian agriculture including labor shortage for agricultural operations, high cost and health hazards of manual pesticide spraying, inefficiency and wastage in conventional spraying methods, and limited adoption of precision agriculture technologies by small and marginal farmers. By empowering rural women with drone operation skills, the program creates a new cadre of rural technology entrepreneurs who can earn dignified livelihood while serving their communities. The economic empowerment of women has multiplier effects on household welfare, children's education, and overall community development. Furthermore, drone-based spraying significantly reduces pesticide usage (by 30-40% compared to manual spraying), minimizes environmental pollution, improves crop yield and quality, and reduces farmers' input costs and health risks. The scheme also contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality, decent work, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture. Several success stories have emerged from pilot implementations of Drone Didi schemes in other states, where trained women have established profitable micro-enterprises, gained social recognition, and inspired other women in their communities to pursue skill-based livelihoods. The UPSRLM Kanpur Dehat initiative is expected to create similar positive impact and serve as a model for replication in other districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Contact Information and Helpline

For queries, clarifications, or information regarding the Drone Didi recruitment, candidates can contact:

Office Address: District Mission Manager, Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM - Aajeevika), District Mission Management Unit, Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh

Official Website: www.upsrlm.org

District Office Phone: Contact details available on official website and notification

Candidates are advised to visit the official website regularly for updates, announcements, and detailed guidelines. This recruitment presents a transformative opportunity for rural women of Kanpur Dehat to acquire cutting-edge technological skills, establish independent livelihood enterprises, and contribute to agricultural development. Eligible women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and seize this opportunity to become pioneers in the emerging field of agricultural drone services.