Xiaomi who recently launched its drone in China, may never launch it in India because of India’s drone policy. The policy, as reported by MediaNama , aims to put a number of checks and balances in how Indians own and use drones. But if the draft of the policy is anything to go by, you can expect the Indian government to kill this drone trend event before it takes off.

In particular, the draft drone policy deals with two aspects: owning a drone and flying a drone. Even to own a drone, a consumer in India will need to:

— Submit address proof and specifications of the drone to the government

— Submit copy of the drone manual to the government

— Take clearance from police

— Take permission from department of telecom

In addition, consumers will have to ensure that the drone is fireproof and has relevant identity on it specifying it as such.

However, all these conditions are only to own a drone. If you also want to operate it or in other words fly it, you will have to take a permit from DGCA. This permit will be required if you intend to fly the drone at a height of 200 feet. If you intend to fly it a lower height, the permit from local authorities will suffice.

However to obtain such permit, you will be required to submit more documents to the government, including land rights that show you are authorised to use the place where the drone will take off or land.

In fact, these are not the only conditions. There are many more, governing how the ownership of drones will change, the flying conditions — no flying during rain — and similar other rules that make no sense.

With such rules in place, it is easy to see that no company is going to invest money and time into bringing its drones to India. Recently, during a conversation with a senior Xiaomi executive IndiaToday.In inquired about the availability of the company’s NineBot, a self-balancing two-wheel scooter, in India. The answer? “We will love to bring but there is too much regulation and it is nearly impossible to bring it to India,” said the executive.

The same is going to be the fate of Xiaomi’s drone, especially if the government pushes ahead with the draft policy.

The use of drones is causing some concerns in other countries too and various governments are looking to regulate how people acquire and use these funky gadgets. For example, the US too is regulating the use of drones. The country requires that all drones that weigh more than 250 grams must be registered with the government before they take flight.