A high-tech anti-drone system was installed at the Taj Mahal in Agra on Friday to strengthen aerial security around the historic monument, according to officials.
Syed Arib Ahmed, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Taj Security), confirmed that the system is now operational within the premises of the Taj Mahal. The technology is designed to detect and disable any drone entering the prohibited airspace.&nbsp;
Active surveillance will cover a 500-metre radius surrounding the monument, with immediate neutralisation of any unmanned aerial vehicles detected within this zone.
"The system is capable of disabling drones within an 8-km radius, but considering the security sensitivity of the Taj Mahal, monitoring has initially been limited to a 500-metre perimeter," Ahmed explained.&nbsp;
He added that the system operates by jamming radio frequencies and GPS signals to render drones inactive. Once a device is brought down, a rapid response team will be deployed to retrieve it and identify the individual operating it.
Ahmed also revealed that the system, provided by the security headquarters, was tested in advance and successfully detected and neutralised drones during its trial phase. The equipment can track drones from any direction within an eight-kilometre radius, while also identifying the exact location from which they are being controlled.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It not only tracks the drone&rsquo;s current location but also pinpoints where it is being operated from. Drones coming within 500 metres of the monument are automatically neutralised,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;If any drone enters the no-fly zone around the Taj Mahal, the system will detect it immediately. A response team will then trace the operator&rsquo;s location, conduct a raid, and take legal action as per the rules,&rdquo; he continued.
Prior to the system's implementation, security personnel responsible for safeguarding the Taj Mahal received a week of training to ensure they could efficiently operate the technology. Ahmed noted that the Taj is guarded by both Agra Police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and drone activity within 500 metres of the monument remains strictly forbidden.
Police officials declined to disclose technical specifications of the system due to security concerns but indicated that it functions through a &lsquo;soft kill&rsquo; mechanism. This method involves automatic signal jamming that disables the drone without physical destruction. Once grounded, the system enables authorities to trace and secure the launch site.
Agra Police have been assigned the responsibility of maintaining and operating the system. However, the specific locations of the radar and related components have not been made public.
This security upgrade follows heightened alertness nationwide after India conducted strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 deaths.
Uttar Pradesh Police are among the few law enforcement agencies in India equipped with anti-drone capabilities for the protection of critical sites and dignitaries. The same system was previously deployed during the Ram Lalla idol consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, and earlier during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
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High-tech system deployed to detect, disable drones near Taj Mahal amid increased national security measures.

Taj Mahal Secured with Advanced Anti-Drone System

High-tech system deployed to detect, disable drones near Taj Mahal amid increased national security measures.

May 31, 2025 | 18:58 IST