📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Choleswar
Business
Odisha Youth Who Built a College Rocket Targets Rs 10,000 crore Drone Enterprise
✍️ India Today
🗓 28 Sep 2026, 08:17 PM
👁 15
A former college student from Odisha, who previously designed a rocket, is now planning to launch a drone manufacturing company valued at Rs 10,000 crore.
The entrepreneur, who gained attention after constructing a functional rocket during his engineering studies, has set his sights on the rapidly expanding unmanned aerial vehicle market. He announced intentions to establish a drone manufacturing firm with a projected valuation of Rs 10,000 crore, aiming to cater to sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and defence.
According to the plan, the venture will focus on developing both commercial and specialised drones, leveraging indigenous technology and local supply chains. The founder expects to create a network of production facilities across the country, with an initial emphasis on his home state of Odisha.
Industry analysts note that the Indian drone market is projected to cross Rs 30,000 crore in the next five years, making the proposed scale ambitious yet plausible. The entrepreneur’s background in aerospace engineering and his prior success with a college‑level rocket are cited as indicators of technical capability.
Funding for the project is expected to come from a mix of venture capital, government schemes supporting indigenous manufacturing, and private investors. The timeline for the first production unit is slated for early next year, pending regulatory clearances.
If realized, the company could become one of the largest indigenous drone manufacturers in India, potentially reducing reliance on imports and creating significant employment opportunities in the region.
According to the plan, the venture will focus on developing both commercial and specialised drones, leveraging indigenous technology and local supply chains. The founder expects to create a network of production facilities across the country, with an initial emphasis on his home state of Odisha.
Industry analysts note that the Indian drone market is projected to cross Rs 30,000 crore in the next five years, making the proposed scale ambitious yet plausible. The entrepreneur’s background in aerospace engineering and his prior success with a college‑level rocket are cited as indicators of technical capability.
Funding for the project is expected to come from a mix of venture capital, government schemes supporting indigenous manufacturing, and private investors. The timeline for the first production unit is slated for early next year, pending regulatory clearances.
If realized, the company could become one of the largest indigenous drone manufacturers in India, potentially reducing reliance on imports and creating significant employment opportunities in the region.