Rio inaugurates Nagaland’s first Drone School and launches Naga Bazaar to boost youth skills, digital economy, cooperative growth.
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DIMAPUR — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday inaugurated Nagaland’s first Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence at Kohima and also launched MARCOFED’s e-commerce platform ‘Naga Bazaar’ as part of the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
The Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence were inaugurated at the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre, Kohima. The facility is an initiative of the State GIS and Remote Sensing Centre under Planning and Transformation department and is aimed at equipping youth with drone technology skills and promoting innovation-driven employment.
Describing the initiative as a major step towards harnessing modern technology for governance, development and public service delivery, Rio said Nagaland has been closely observing global advancements in drone technology. He noted that while drones were earlier associated mainly with warfare, they are now increasingly being used for developmental purposes.
He said the Drone School would serve as a hub for innovation and capacity building and enable the transfer of knowledge to districts and interior areas so that the benefits of technology reach the last mile. He added that the initiative would strengthen Nagaland’s preparedness for future challenges and help position the state as a leader in the effective use of drone technology.
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According to a DIPR update, the Drone School will offer DGCA-compliant Remote Pilot Certificate courses along with short-term non-DGCA programmes in FPV flying, drone repair and maintenance, and drone data analysis and mapping. It will be equipped with classrooms, laboratories, simulators, assembly workshops and designated flying grounds at Tsiesema and Thizama. It will also function as a Centre of Excellence for UAV research, innovation and technical support to government departments.
The first batch of 50 trainees, sponsored by Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission, is scheduled to commence from January 27. The trainees will receive free training across multiple specialisations, along with placement assistance and industry linkages.
With an allocation of INR 2.50 crore under the State Plan for the financial year 2025–26, the Drone School is expected to strengthen skill development, enhance governance through drone-enabled services and create new livelihood opportunities across Nagaland, it stated.
Earlier in the day, Rio launched the e-commerce platform ‘Naga Bazaar’ at Civil Secretariat Plaza.
The Nagaland State Co-operative Marketing and Consumers’ Federation Ltd., formally launched its e-commerce portal, www.nagabazaar.com, a hyper-local quick delivery platform aimed at strengthening the local economy through digital innovation and cooperative participation.
The platform is designed to deliver everyday essentials and groceries and is powered by MARCOFED’s cooperative network. It connects primary cooperative societies, local producers, farmers, self-help groups, artisans and farmer producer organisations directly with consumers across the state.
MARCOFED officials said the platform is envisioned as a scalable digital marketplace to promote inclusive growth, ensure fair pricing and strengthen supply chains, while enhancing market access for local stakeholders.