The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has made its certification service for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) fully operational, allowing drone manufacturers in India to access conformity assessment and certification services.
The certification operates under the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CSUAS), administered by the Quality Council of India (QCI) on behalf of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). ARAI is authorised to evaluate UAS platforms against CSUAS requirements and issue Statements of Conformity that support DGCA type certification.
The move comes as drone adoption expands across sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, mining, disaster management and defence. Under the certification process, manufacturers are required to demonstrate compliance with applicable airworthiness, safety and cybersecurity requirements.
How ARAI’s UAS Certification Process Works
ARAI’s certification follows a two-stage evaluation process. The first stage involves verification of documentation covering design data, technical specifications, and safety and security documentation.
The second stage involves physical and flight evaluation of the submitted UAS. The aircraft is assessed against its documentation and subjected to flight testing to evaluate performance, stability and compliance with its applicable classification. The classifications cover Micro, Small, Medium and Large UAS categories based on maximum all-up weight.
After successful completion of both stages, ARAI issues a Statement of Conformity to the DGCA. This forms the basis for type certification and the subsequent allotment of a Unique Identification Number (UIN) to compliant UAS platforms.
ARAI UAS Certification Portal
Drone manufacturers can access the certification procedures, application formats, evaluation criteria, applicable fee structures and technical guidance through ARAI’s dedicated UAS certification portal.
ARAI Director Dr Reji Mathai said the organisation’s objective is to support a compliant drone ecosystem through its UAS certification service and work with industry stakeholders on the deployment of drone technologies meeting applicable safety and performance requirements.
ARAI, established in 1966, is an automotive R&D organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Its activities include testing and validation, certification and homologation, design and development, research and development, standardisation and consulting.