The Governor of Nagaland, Nand Kishore Yadav, visited the Nagaland GIS & Remote Sensing Centre (NGISRSC) and the Drone Centre of Excellence, Kohima, under the Planning & Transformation Department, Government of Nagaland, on 7th September 2026.
During the visit, the Governor was briefed on Nagaland's journey in adopting drone technology, which began with the establishment of a Drone Unit for mapping, surveying and geospatial data acquisition. The Centre has since undertaken research and development programmes and collaborated with various stakeholders and government departments, gradually building regional recognition in UAV training.
The Governor was informed about the evolution of the Drone School into a Centre of Excellence, aimed at creating skilled manpower and opening career pathways in employment, entrepreneurship, start-ups and public-sector UAV deployments.
The Drone Centre of Excellence offers a range of specialised programmes, including DGCA compliant Remote Pilot Certificate courses for Small and Medium Category drones, as well as training in First Person View (FPV) operations, drone repair and maintenance, GIS drone survey and mapping, drone cinematography and hands on avionics.
Highlighting the Centre's contribution towards youth empowerment, it was informed that under the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission (NSEDM), 70 candidates have been selected for training across various drone-related courses. Altogether, 72 trainees have completed drone training under the Drone Centre of Excellence. The initiative seeks to equip young people with advanced technological skills while promoting self-employment, startups and employment opportunities within and outside the State.
The future vision for NGISRSC includes the development of a State Geospatial Campus at Tuoliezou, Kohima, along with an Advanced Drone Technology and UAV Innovation Hub. The proposed facilities envision capabilities in AI enabled drones, LiDAR, multispectral and thermal sensors, autonomous systems, fabrication, prototyping, repair and manufacturing, with applications across sectors including disaster response, agriculture, health and infrastructure.
The Drone Centre of Excellence represents an important step towards positioning Nagaland as a regional hub for drone skills, innovation and applications, while creating new avenues for technology driven livelihoods and entrepreneurship among the youth.
The Governor appreciated the efforts being made to build a skilled workforce in emerging technologies and emphasised the importance of preparing Nagaland's youth for future employment opportunities. He noted that drone technology has applications across diverse sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, disaster management, environmental monitoring, cinematography and geospatial mapping.
Expressing his appreciation for the work being carried out by the Centre, the Governor said that he was truly fascinated by the functioning and initiatives of the Nagaland GIS & Remote Sensing Centre. He encouraged the organisation to continue its efforts and assured his support towards strengthening its activities and capabilities.
The Governor also highlighted the importance of leveraging modern technology and innovation for effective governance and development. He encouraged the Centre to contribute towards the vision of a self-reliant India and towards the Prime Minister's vision, Vikshit Bharat 2047.
Development Commissioner, Government of Nagaland, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS and other officials of Planning & Transformation were also present.
(PRO Lok Bhavan)
