Description

Copyright infringement not intended

Context:

The GP-DRASTI drone program by the Gujarat Police.

About GP-DRASTI program

It is a new initiative by the Gujarat Police to use drones for faster response and better surveillance. It stands for Gujarat Police – Drone Response and Aerial Surveillance Tactical Interventions.

How does the GP-DRASTI program work?

When someone calls the police control room to report a crime, the control room alerts both the local police and the drone team.
The drone takes off immediately and flies toward the nearest landmark near the crime scene.
From there, the drone operator guides it to the exact location using special software.
The drone sends live video footage to the base station so police can see what’s happening in real-time.
If the situation looks serious, police send more officers to the spot.

Case Study -> A fight breaks out at a market. The drone reaches there in minutes and shows the police exactly how many people are involved and whether weapons are being used. Based on this, police decide how many officers to send.

Where will the drones be used?

The drones will be used in 33 police station areas across four major cities: Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara. These areas are known as “hotspots” for violent crimes like assaults, riots, mob attacks, and street fights.

What kind of drones are being used?

The Gujarat Police are using quadcopter drones. These are small flying machines with four propellers.

They have advanced cameras that can zoom up to 1 km and work well even at night. The drones can stay in the air for about 45 minutes and cover a distance of 4 km from the base station.

Each drone is controlled by a two-person team. One person operates the drone, while the other knows the local area well and helps guide it. Right now, 16 police officers (two from each station) are being trained to handle these drones. They learn how to fly the drones and analyze the footage at the Gujarat Police Academy.

Way Forward

GP-DRASTI is unique because it combines technology with traditional policing. Earlier, police relied only on patrol vans and foot patrols. Now, drones give them an “eye in the sky,” allowing them to monitor large areas quickly.

Must Read Articles:

DRONES

About Silvaguard Drone

The "Namo Drone Didi" Scheme

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Critically analyze the role of drones in disaster management and emergency response. 150 words

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9