Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS visited the Nagaland GIS & Remote Sensing Centre (NGISRSC) on July 23 and interacted with the officers and staff of the Centre.
In his interaction, Kikheto Sema appreciated the significant work carried out by NGISRSC and commended the Centre for developing an extensive geospatial database and strong technical expertise, which have contributed considerably to informed decision-making and sustainable development in the State.
He emphasised that State Government Departments should increasingly utilise the expertise, infrastructure, and technical capabilities available at NGISRSC for the implementation of Central and State-sponsored programmes, rather than relying extensively on external agencies.
He also suggested undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the State’s solar power generation potential, integrated with the existing and proposed power-grid network, to facilitate efficient and sustainable energy planning.
Appreciating the state-of-the-art facilities established at the Drone Centre of Excellence, Sema highlighted the considerable employment and entrepreneurship potential of the drone sector. He encouraged the Centre to expand its skill-development programmes to create opportunities for the youth of Nagaland as remote pilots, drone technicians, geospatial survey professionals, instructors, and entrepreneurs.
He further emphasised the importance of promoting research, innovation, indigenous drone design, and in-house manufacturing to develop drone systems suited to Nagaland’s unique terrain and operational requirements. Such initiatives, he observed, would strengthen technological self-reliance and help position Nagaland as a regional hub for drone technology, training, innovation, and services.
Welcoming the Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Er Mhathung Kithan, Senior Project Director, presented an overview of the Centre’s mandate, achievements, and contributions towards evidence-based planning and sustainable development in Nagaland through the application of geospatial technologies.
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He highlighted major initiatives undertaken by the Centre, including State-wide Village Resource Mapping, assessment of hydropower potential, urban mapping up to the building-footprint, landslide hazard zonation, aquatic resource mapping, traffic studies, and other thematic geospatial projects.
The Development Commissioner was further briefed on the activities of the Drone Centre of Excellence–Drone School. Officials highlighted the various training programmes conducted by the Centre, including FPV Drone Operations, Drone Repair and Maintenance, Drone GIS Mapping, and Drone Cinematography. A total of 58 personnel have been trained to date, while DGCA-certified drone training courses are expected to commence in August 2026.
During the visit, Sema toured the Centre’s training facilities, drone assembly laboratory, prototyping unit, and repair and maintenance laboratory. He was briefed on the complete lifecycle of drone development and operations, including design, assembly, testing, deployment, servicing, and maintenance.
