Government Policy to Strengthen Drone Operations Framework in Nepal Police and Armed Police Force
Image credit, Nepal Police
The government has stated it is working to provide Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force with additional unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), along with specialized training, assigning them responsibilities such as post-disaster search and rescue and riot control.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has committed in this fiscal year’s policy and programs to utilizing drones and night vision cameras at border checkpoints to control illegal activities.
The ministry’s budget publication allocates funds for drone and anti-drone equipment.
Additionally, funds have been set aside for nationwide expansion of the CCTV grid and enhancement of artificial intelligence (AI) analytical capabilities.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs noted that discussions are underway to maximize the use of technology for the core duties of security agencies and to develop a specific operational structure as needed.
According to a Nepal Police spokesperson, there are currently 88 personnel capable of operating drones at the central and provincial levels, with plans to establish aerial security and support units at the central, provincial, district, and local levels in the future.
What’s Included in the Budget?
Image credit, Nepal Police
Prior to presenting the budget, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle highlighted monitoring issues concerning forests, wildfires, and border checkpoints in the parliamentary policy program.
The program also emphasized the use of drones and helicopters in collaboration with the private sector for disaster risk mapping, search and rescue, and employing drones along with night vision cameras to curb illegal activities at border crossings.
The budget allocates NPR 20 million for police patrolling drones, NPR 19 million for heavy lifting drones, NPR 25 million for search and rescue drones, and NPR 45 million for anti-drone equipment.
The Armed Police Force has allocated nearly NPR 300 million for security systems and equipment.
Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that security agencies are conducting groundwork regarding resources and personnel needs, and a directive manual is under development.
Ministry spokesperson Anand Kafle said, “With advancements in technology, we are moving forward to employ drones in core security responsibilities such as disaster management and are organizing their uses systematically.”
He added, “We are planning how and where to deploy drones, minimum drone inventory for security agencies, maintenance, and human resource development.”
Where Does the Nepal Police Use Drones?
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Nepal Police began utilizing drone technology, known as UAVs, during the devastating 2015 earthquake.
Currently, the organization has 26 types of unmanned aerial devices, with seven of them under maintenance, according to Nepal Police spokesperson Avin Narayan Kafle.
“We use drones for security management, crime investigation, traffic control, search and rescue, border surveillance, highway security, crowd management and monitoring, and disaster management,” he added.
The police aim to establish aerial security and support units at central, provincial, district, and local levels and have developed and implemented operational procedures accordingly.
Nepal Police also strive to train dedicated personnel in drone maintenance, operations, and data analysis internally.
Officials said that police introduced drone and anti-drone operational procedures in 2025 BS (2018-2019) and have since played a role in controlling unauthorized drone flights.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ 2018 regulations on unmanned aerial vehicles include provisions mandating registration with the Civil Aviation Authority.
The regulation allows for drone flights with written or verbal consent from the Ministry of Home Affairs, local administration, or police, depending on the drone type.
The guidelines classify drone flights into five categories, including military and security purposes.
They also permit drone use for study, research, disaster management, service delivery, development management, arts, literature, entertainment, and mass communication activities.
Image credit, Photo Courtesy: Anuj Chudhary
Rajiv Subba, former Deputy Inspector General of Police and current Chief Election Commissioner, said that unmanned aerial vehicle technology allows security agencies to perform a wide range of public interest tasks.
He noted, “UAV technology is extremely useful in disaster management, aiding in search and rescue and identifying high-risk areas. It can also be used to disseminate public information during festivals, pandemics, and curfews.”
Authorities added that this technology is also valuable for managing security arrangements for VIPs and controlling riots.
Following communal tensions in Dewanganj, Sunsari, Nepal Police deployed drones for security surveillance, reportedly bringing them from Kathmandu.
Nepal Police’s Communications Directorate regularly monitors drone technology. The unit, responsible for police communication systems, CCTV grids, jammers, drones, and robotics, employs over 1,200 technical personnel.
Police Plans
This year, the police allocated NPR 40 million for body cameras, NPR 60 million for expanding the CCTV grid, and NPR 180 million for secure database machines.
They have set aside NPR 504.9 million for artificial intelligence development and NPR 55 million for Android and iOS smartphone access systems.
In March of this year, the Investigation, Planning, and Development Directorate under the Nepal Police headquarters formed the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics Cell (AI-AAC).
Initially staffed by six employees, and comprising five desks, the cell has started monitoring activities through various software platforms.
“This cell securely collects, stores, and manages digital evidence found through monitoring social and digital media,” explained police spokesperson Kafle.
Nepal Police previously stated that in the first phase, 16 positions under SP command would be created for full-scale operation, with plans to extend this framework to provincial levels gradually.