The SME Playbook for India's Drone Economy

India's drone economy has matured into a regulated, commercially viable industry — 38,500+ registered drones, 39,890 certified pilots, 244 DGCA-approved RPTOs. This playbook is written for the ₹50 lakh–₹5 crore investor: it scores eight business segments on capital, gross margin, payback and SME suitability, identifies where value actually accrues (components not assembly; the aftermarket and services layer over the airframe), and gives each segment a step-by-step entry roadmap, an investment decision matrix and a 24-month action agenda.