The government is working to develop mandatory quality standards for drones and electric vehicles (EVs), a move aimed at containing the import of sub-standard products and boosting domestic industry, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.

He said that work is also underway for developing quality control orders (QCOs) for the charging infrastructure of EVs.

Standards for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-- drones for agricultural purposes are developed and now work is on for UAV to be used for general requirements, and testing requirements of sub-systems and cybersecurity.

In the EV segment, standards are being developed for specific requirements for electric power trains and rechargeable electrical energy storage systems for certain categories of vehicles, electric rickshaws and type approval of hybrid electric vehicles.

"New areas where we are looking at standards are areas like drones...Similarly, we are working on standards for EVs and the charging infra of EVs," Goyal told reporters.

He said that all standards are made after a detailed consultation with the industry.

Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), said that several standards for batteries have been developed and they are working on battery swapping.

"We expect that in about 3 months, we would be able to develop that," Tiwari said.

Goyal said that it is taking some time as there was opposition from the industry.

"We want cooperation from the industry on this," the minister said.

Tiwari also informed that the standard on UAV – general requirements, testing requirements of sub-systems and cybersecurity is under development.

He added that cybersecurity is essential in drones for protection from cyber attacks, unauthorised access, and theft of data.

"The document is being developed on the basis of risk identification. Compliance with this document will ensure the protection of sensitive data, maintaining privacy, ensuring safe operation, preventing hi-jacking," he added.