Responsible governance of civilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) innovations for Indian crop insurance applications

Civilian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an emerging technology in Indian crop insurance applications. The technology is new to an agro-based country like India with diverse socio-cultural norms and values. However, in such a diverse democracy, UAV governance and deployment pose a significant challenge and risk. In other words, charting out a proper framework for a risk-free implementation of this governance has emerged as a leading research topic in the concerned discipline. In innovations literature, Responsible Innovation (RI) takes care of emerging technology governance; thus, RI becomes significant as a theoretical framework. The study is intended to find out how the framework of RI enables responsible governance and also who are the main actors and stakeholders of governance and deployment of civilian UAVs in crop insurance applications in India? An in-depth interview method and snowball sampling technique have been employed to identify interviewees from Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Findings suggest that civilian UAV is effective in handling risk, crop damage assessment, and claim settlement. The RI approach, through its dimensions and steps, enables equal participation and deliberation among all the actors and stakeholders of UAV governance that consists of government bodies, research organizations, insurance agencies, local administration, and farmers. Effective regulations, adhering to accountability, and responsibility promote responsible governance.