BECIL Successfully Organizes ‘India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge’ under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

BECIL Organizes 'India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge' — Finalists to be Honored at WAVES 2025

Celebrating India Through the Lens of Drones: BECIL’s Unique Visual Initiative

In a pioneering move to blend technology, creativity, and inclusive storytelling, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL)—a Mini Ratna PSU under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB)—successfully organized the ‘India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge’. This national-level drone video competition served as a unique platform to showcase India's vibrant landscapes, rich heritage, cultural diversity, and technological advancements from a fresh aerial perspective.

The challenge witnessed widespread engagement and participation from across the country, culminating in the selection of top finalists who will be felicitated at WAVES 2025, India’s premier media and entertainment summit.

About the Challenge: A Sky-High Celebration of India's Spirit

The ‘India: A Bird’s Eye View Challenge’ invited participants to submit 2–3 minute aerial drone videos capturing the essence of India—its progress, traditions, natural beauty, and innovation. The competition was split into two impactful categories:

• 🔷 Open Category: Open to all Indian citizens—filmmakers, professionals, students, drone hobbyists, and content creators.

• 🔷 Drone Didi Category: Exclusively for women trained under government schemes like the Namo Drone Didi Yojana, which empowers rural and semi-urban women through drone training programs.

This inclusive approach positioned the challenge as not just a competition, but a nation-building narrative promoting women’s empowerment and tech-based creativity.

National Outreach & Massive Participation

BECIL launched an extensive nationwide outreach campaign using a hybrid of digital and traditional strategies to drive participation. This included:

• Institutional visits to drone academies and media colleges

• Seminars and interactive sessions with students

• A dedicated online portal for easy registration and video submission

• Targeted email campaigns to media schools and civil society networks

• Active promotion on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

• Distribution of posters, flyers, and pamphlets across key centers

Result? Overwhelming Response!

The challenge attracted 1,324 registrations, including 382 entries from Drone Didi participants, representing a strong nationwide response. Entries came from the valleys of Himachal Pradesh to the coasts of Tamil Nadu, reflecting a pan-India showcase of culture, technology, and storytelling.

Meet the Esteemed Jury Panel

Each video entry was evaluated by an elite jury of cinematic and technical experts:

• 🎥 Mr. Piyush Shah – Cinematographer, Producer, Writer, Sound Designer

• 🎬 Mr. R.V. Ramani – National Award-winning Filmmaker and Documentary Cinematographer

• 🎞️ Mr. Arun Varma – Acclaimed Cinematographer in Indian Cinema

After a thorough selection process, five finalists from each category were shortlisted, alongside four special entries for Social Representation.

Finalists to be Honored at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai

These top drone creators will be celebrated at WAVES 2025—the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, taking place in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025. The grand felicitation ceremony promises to be a key highlight of the summit.

🔗 Visit: www.becil.com for updates and full results.

About WAVES 2025: A Global Stage for India’s Creative Future

WAVES (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit) is a landmark initiative by the Government of India to position India as a global media powerhouse. Focus areas at the summit include:

🎙️ Broadcasting | 🎬 Films & TV | 🕹️ Gaming & Comics | 🎧 Music & Sound
🌐 Digital & Social Media | 📱 Generative AI | 🧠 AR/VR/XR | 🎨 Animation & VFX

Whether you're a filmmaker, investor, innovator, or student, WAVES 2025 offers unmatched opportunities to connect, collaborate, and create.

Join the Movement!

Celebrate India’s journey from the skies and be part of the revolution in drone storytelling, media innovation, and creative empowerment.

📢 Register now for WAVES 2025
📬 Stay updated with the latest from PIB Team WAVES

#BECIL #DroneChallengeIndia #DroneDidi #IndiaFromTheSky #MIBInitiatives #WAVES2025 #DroneVideography #WomenInTech #CreativeIndia #DigitalIndia #ARVRIndia #MakeInIndia