In Brief:
- Dates: August 2 to August 16, 2026.
- Flying of sub-conventional aerial objects (drones, UAVs, paragliders, balloons) is prohibited in Delhi.
- Threat mitigation by Police Commissioner under Section 163 BNSS; violations penalised under Section 223 BNS.
- Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard cancelled on August 1 & 8 for rehearsals.
Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, the Delhi Police has banned the flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms—including drones, UAVs, quadcopters, paragliders, hot air balloons, and microlight aircraft—across the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi from August 2 to August 16, 2026.
Issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the order aims to prevent potential security threats to the public, dignitaries, and vital installations from anti-social elements or terrorists, with violations punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Additionally, Rashtrapati Bhavan announced that the weekly Change of Guard Ceremony held at its Forecourt will be cancelled on August 1 and August 8, 2026, due to preparations and rehearsals for the main Independence Day event.
Source: NDTV
