Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has entered into a significant partnership with IIT Kanpur-incubated deep-tech startup Maraal Aerospace. This collaboration, formalized through a Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement (SSSHA) executed at IEW 2026 in Goa on January 29, 2026, marks a key advancement in India's clean-energy and deep-tech aerospace sectors. Under its 'HP Udgam' Startup Support Initiative, HPCL is investing ₹2 crore in Maraal Aerospace. This investment is aimed at accelerating the startup's product development, testing, and system validation processes, thereby enabling faster product realization and scale-up. Maraal Aerospace is developing India's first solar-powered, long-endurance drone. This innovative product integrates high-efficiency aerodynamics with solar-assisted electric propulsion, offering up to 12 hours of flight time, a range of 150 km, and a service ceiling of 6 km. The drone boasts low operating costs and reduced logistical dependence, making it suitable for critical defense and civilian applications such as border surveillance, ISR missions, asset inspection, and disaster management. The company's future plans include a Solar + Hydrogen hybrid variant targeting 24-hour endurance and a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) platform for missions exceeding 90 days. Through this strategic partnership, HPCL reinforces its dedication to fostering India's indigenous innovation in clean energy and deep tech startups.
