By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 22: Advanced drone services and training programmes across the Northeast can now be rolled out after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, with Akin Analytics, India’s first women-led DeepTech AI and drone analytics startup.
The MoU was signed in Shillong on Monday between NECTAR Director General Dr Arun Kumar Sarma and Akin Analytics founder Janaki Pulaparthi.
The collaboration will focus on leveraging drone technology in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, energy, and disaster management. While Akin brings indigenous drone solutions and an AI-driven analytics platform, NECTAR will integrate these services into its mission of fostering inclusive socio-economic growth in the region.
Pulaparthi described the partnership as a milestone for women-led innovation in India’s DeepTech sector. “Together, we will strive to make drone technology a key enabler for livelihoods, innovation, and sustainable growth in the North Eastern states,” she said.
Sarma said the MoU marks a landmark step, combining India’s indigenous drone innovation and advanced AI analytics with NECTAR’s vision of inclusive growth.
“Through this partnership, we aim to empower farmers, women self-help groups, and youth with future-ready skills. By introducing advanced drones like NIKA2 KDM, we are positioning the North East as a hub of drone-led innovation aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and Women-Led Development,” he added.
As part of the initiative, grassroots farmers and youth will benefit from DGCA-certified drone training and the distribution of indigenous agri-drones under central schemes designed to improve farm productivity, reduce risks, and enhance livelihoods. Akin, with its local office at Guwahati Biotech Park, will provide drone solutions and analytics support, while NECTAR integrates them into its development programmes.
Highlighting the progress, NECTAR’s Chief Geomatics Officer Rajendra Jena revealed that an agriculture drone developed under the program is awaiting type certification from the TCI.
Once approved, the drone, which will be equipped with autonomous navigation, collision-avoidance technology, and fail-safe mechanisms, will be deployed for agricultural use, particularly in tea plantations where traditional spraying methods struggle with uneven tree distribution.
Jena further noted that NECTAR and Akin are working to establish a Drone Tech Hub in the region, which will house assembly units, a repair and service centre, and collaborative facilities for startups and industry partners.
“This is the right time to build a strong ecosystem in the North East, with multiple agencies from across India supporting drone technology and innovation here,” he said.
The initiative is expected to accelerate drone adoption in critical sectors while nurturing a local ecosystem of repair, assembly, and analytics to reduce dependency on external markets.
The signing was also attended by Dr Colin Z Renthelei, Advisor, NECTAR; Simon Phukan, Senior Administrative Officer; and members of NECTAR’s Geospatial team, including key technical officials and drone pilots.
