Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has signed a Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement (SSSHA) with Maraal Aerospace, a deep-tech startup founded by Vivek Kumar Pandey and incubated at IIT Kanpur, HPCL will invest ₹2 crore through its startup support initiative HP Udgam. The agreement was executed at IEW 2026 in Goa on January 29, 2026, with the funding aimed at accelerating product development, testing and system validation to enable faster product realisation and scale-up.
What Maraal Aerospace is building?
Maraal Aerospace is developing what it describes as India’s first solar-powered long-endurance drone using clean-energy propulsion. The company’s concept combines high-efficiency aerodynamics with solar-assisted electric propulsion. The drone is designed for:
- Up to 12 hours of endurance
- 150 km one-way range
- Service ceiling up to 6 km above mean sea level
- Low operating costs and reduced logistical dependence
Where this drone could be used?
The stated use-cases span both defence and civilian needs, specifically:
- Border and maritime surveillance
- ISR missions
- Infrastructure and asset inspection
- Disaster management operations
The roadmap: Solar + hydrogen, then high-altitude endurance
The startup’s roadmap, as outlined in the same update, includes:
- A solar + hydrogen hybrid variant targeting 24-hour endurance
- A future High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platform intended for missions exceeding 90 days
Why HPCL is making this bet?
HPCL positioned the partnership as part of its broader push to strengthen India’s indigenous innovation ecosystem, specifically at the intersection of clean-energy and deep-tech aerospace.
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