Goa, Sept. 5 -- India is preparing to introduce a nationwide digital system to manage the growing number of drones operating at low altitudes, as the country moves towards wider use of unmanned aircraft for deliveries, agriculture, surveillance and other commercial applications.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is exploring a national Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) system that would oversee drone traffic up to 1,000 feet above ground level. The initiative is aimed at creating a safer and more organised low-altitude airspace as drone operations become increasingly common.

CNN-News18 has accessed a document issued by AAI seeking global technical and operational inputs from companies capable of helping develop the ...