A story that embodied the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat and grassroots innovation was brought to life by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India at IIM Sambalpur’s convocation ceremony. The narrative highlighted IG Drones and its founder, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya — a middle class Odia boy who rose from a small town in Odisha to the forefront of India’s burgeoning drone industry. His journey stands as a powerful example of how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant, technology-driven nation is being realized through youth-driven entrepreneurship and cutting-edge innovation. From humble beginnings to transforming the nation’s drone landscape, Bodhisattwa’s story is a testament to the impact of grassroots innovation on India’s future.
While on a flight from Delhi to Odisha, Shri P.K. Mishra found himself seated next to a young man who seemed familiar. It turned out to be Bodhisattwa, a former engineering student from Odisha’s oldest engineering college, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) in Burla. He reminded Shri Mishra of a meeting back in 2017, when he and his student team had pitched their college rocket project to him — Asia’s first student rocketry project, which was also featured in the Limca Book of Records. Touched by their ambition, Shri Mishra had connected them with ISRO — a gesture that, as Bodhisattwa shared, would go on to change the trajectory of their lives, as ISRO later took over the project with
That early encouragement led Bodhisattwa to turn down an offer from leading MNC Infosys and laid the groundwork for what would become IG Drones — a pioneering Made in India drone tech company that has since grown into one of the most impactful players in the country’s emerging drone ecosystem. Deeply rooted in Odisha, IG Drones is a leading supplier to the Defence, Government, and Private sectors, and has executed over 500 projects for government bodies, PSUs, and multinational corporations across sectors such as defence, smart cities, infrastructure, agriculture, and disaster management.
The company is not only building AI-powered, 5G-enabled drones like Jaga and SKYHAWK but also cultivating an ecosystem of job creation through large-scale rural skilling and tribal upskilling. Through its Drone Centres of Excellence, IG Drones has trained more than 50,000 youth across India — preparing a skilled workforce ready to power the next phase of India’s drone-led growth story.
India’s commercial drone market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17%, nearly doubling to $1.4 billion by 2029. IG Drones is contributing to this growth not only through innovation and market expansion but also by enabling micro-entrepreneurship and livelihood generation. The company’s integrated approach — combining hardware manufacturing, drone-as-a-service platforms, and educational outreach — makes it a standout in a sector brimming with potential.
Speaking on the recognition and journey, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder & CEO of IG Drones, said:
“Our mission has always been inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. We started with nothing but ambition, and meeting Shri P.K. Mishra sir changed my life — I met the right person at the right time, which helped me make the right decision. What could have remained just a dream is now a reality, with the potential to make India the Global Drone Hub.
Today, our Made-in-India drones are solving real-world problems across industries. But more than that, we are proud to be creating jobs, unlocking opportunities, and empowering underserved communities through tribal and rural skilling.
We believe in building not just technology, but a movement — one that brings pride to Odisha and power to the nation”
As India cements its place as a global leader in drone innovation, IG Drones stands as a testament to the transformative power of youth entrepreneurship, indigenous innovation, and visionary policy. From college rocket projects to cutting-edge AI drones, and from one small town to national recognition — this is the story of an Odia son shaping the skies, and the future, of India.