by Afreen Ashraf
SRINAGAR: Rutba Majeed, a young engineer from Kashmir, has made history by becoming the first woman in the region to qualify the DGCA Drone Instructor Examination. Alongside this milestone, her idea for a low-cost drone-based system to detect faults in power infrastructure has been selected under MSME Hackathon 5.0, earning a Rs 15 lakh grant for further development.
Rutba is an Electrical Engineering graduate who was first introduced to drone technology during an internship at NIELIT. What began as an exploratory experience soon developed into a deeper interest in how drones function and how they can be used beyond recreational purposes. “In the beginning, I was just exploring,” she said. “Then I started learning about drone rules, regulations, and their applications.”
With time and growing knowledge in the field, she noticed a lack of awareness about drone usage in her region. Rutba observed that many users operate drones without a clear understanding of safety guidelines, which can sometimes lead to risks. This realization encouraged her to take the field more seriously and pursue a structured study of drone technology. At the same time, she was looking for ways to apply her engineering background to real-world problems. “I wanted to solve real problems using my engineering background, and that’s how I got deeply involved in drone technology,” she said.
Her certification as a DGCA Drone Instructor is a significant achievement, making her the first woman from the region in this field. She said this milestone also comes with a sense of responsibility. “It feels special, but also like a responsibility,” she said. “I hope it encourages other girls from Kashmir to step into this field. It shows we can also be part of this technology.”
Alongside this achievement, her innovative idea has also received national recognition. Her project, Low-Cost Drone Imaging for Detection of Power Infrastructure Faults, was selected under MSME Hackathon 5.0, earning Rs 15 lakh in funding support for further development.
The project aims to detect hidden faults in power transmission systems such as overheating, insulation damage, and corona discharge, which are often difficult to identify through manual inspections. These challenges are especially significant in remote and mountainous regions like Jammu and Kashmir.
She explained that the idea involves using drones equipped with sensors to detect such issues early, before they develop into major failures. However, she clarified that the project is still in its development phase, and the funding will be used to build and test a working prototype. “The focus is also to keep it low-cost so it can be used widely,” Rutba said.
Rutba said her motivation for this project comes from both her academic background and real-world challenges in the power sector. She noted that India continues to face significant electricity losses due to transmission faults, and in Jammu and Kashmir, the issue is further intensified by difficult terrain, which makes manual inspections challenging.
She believes the technology can also have wider applications. In the future, similar systems could be used for environmental monitoring and agriculture, such as detecting pollution levels in Dal Lake or assessing crop health through imaging techniques.
However, she acknowledged that the journey so far has not been easy. Developing the project has required continuous learning, experimentation, and problem-solving. “There was a lot of trial and error,” she said. “Working with sensors, data, and drone integration took time and learning.”
The MSME grant has given her more confidence to move the idea forward. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue working in drone technology and expand its applications across various sectors.
Her journey from engineering student to certified drone instructor reflects a broader shift in Kashmir’s technological landscape, where young innovators are increasingly turning ideas into practical solutions.
The DGCA Drone Exam is a certification test conducted by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for individuals who want to operate drones legally in the country. It is part of the requirements under India’s Drone Rules, 2021. The exam assesses knowledge of drone regulations, airspace rules, safety procedures, and basic technical understanding of drone operations. Passing it is necessary to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate for flying drones in permitted categories.
