Who Is Drone Prathap? Wiki, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Parents, Caste, Biography, and More
Drone Prathap, or Prathap N M, is a 25-year-old Indian engineer, programmer, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed ‘drone scientist’. He rose to fame in 2018, when he claimed to have built over 600 drones from electronic waste and used them for various social causes, such as delivering food and relief materials to flood-affected areas.
He also claimed to have won several international awards and recognition for his drone innovations. However, in 2020, he faced a series of controversies, when he was exposed for lying about his achievements, misappropriating other people’s work, and violating quarantine rules. In this article, we will explore the life story of Drone, his claims, his controversies, and his current status.
Early Life and Education
Drone Prathap was born on June 15, 1998, in Netkal village, in Malavalli taluka of Mandya district, in Karnataka. He belongs to a poor agricultural family, with his father, Radima Marimadayaya, being a farmer, and his mother, Savita, being a homemaker. He has a younger sister, whom he calls Putti.
Prathap was interested in science and technology from a young age and was fascinated by eagles and drones. He completed his schooling at Jain International Residential School, Bangalore, and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in science from JSS College of Arts and Commerce, Mysore.
He faced many financial difficulties during his studies and had to work as a sweeper, a tutor, and a newspaper vendor to support himself. He also had to sleep at bus stands, walk long distances, and skip meals to save money for his projects.
Drone Prathap Wiki/Bio
| Name | Drone Prathap |
| Real Name | Prathap N M |
| Profession(s) | Scientist and Businessman |
| Date of Birth | 15 June 1998 (Monday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 25 Years |
| Birthplace | Netkal village in Malavalli taluka of Mandya district in Karnataka |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Scheduled Caste |
| Ethnicity | Kannadiga |
| Education | Bachelor of Science from JSS College of Arts and Commerce, Mysore |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $1 million to $2.5 million |
| Income Sources | Making and selling drones, social media appearances |
| Awards | Extraordinary Kannadiga Award (2018) |
| Controversies | Arrested for violating quarantine rules false claim about receiving international awards |
| Reality Show | Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 |
| Position | First Runner-up |
| Prize Money | Rs 10 lakh and an electric scooter |
| Parents | Father – Marimaddaiah (farmer) Mother – Savita (homemaker) |
| Siblings | One younger sister |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Social Media | Instagram – @droneprathap Twitter – @itsdroneprathap YouTube – @itsdronepratap |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
The Drone Scientist
Prathap started making drones from electronic waste, such as old mixer grinders, televisions, and computers, that he bought from scrap dealers. He learned about drone technology from the internet and used his creativity and innovation to build his models. He named his drones after Indian freedom fighters, such as Bhagat Singh, Rani Laxmi Bai, and Subhash Chandra Bose. He also founded his own company, Dronark Aerospace, and became its CEO.
Prathap claimed to have done six major projects with his drones, such as:
- Telegraphy in Border Security
- Cryptography in Drone Networking System
- Drones in Traffic Management
- Drones in National Socio-Defence Purpose
- UAVs in Rescuing Humans
- Auto-Piloted Drones
He also claimed to have used his drones for social purposes, such as:
- Providing food and relief materials to flood-affected areas in North Karnataka
- Spraying pesticides and fertilizers on crops
- Monitoring forest fires and wildlife
- Conducting aerial surveys and mapping
- Capturing stunning photographs and videos
The International Awards
Prathap also claimed to have won several international awards and recognition for his drone innovations, such as:
- Albert Einstein Innovation Gold Medal at the International Drone Expo 2018, held in Hanover, Germany
- Gold Medal at the International Robotics Exhibition (iREX) 2017, held in Tokyo, Japan
- Gold Medal at the CeBIT Drone Expo 2018, held in Hanover, Germany
- Information Technology and Communication Research Medal, awarded by the Government of India
- Extraordinary Kannadiga Award, conferred by the Cosmopolitan Club, Bangalore
He also claimed to have visited 87 countries and received job offers from various governments and organizations, such as NASA, DRDO, ISRO, and Google.
Net Worth and Income Sources
According to various sources, Drone Prathap’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million to $2.5 million. He accumulated his net worth through making drones and selling them in various regions under his company, Dronark Aerospace, and generating some more income through numerous social media appearances. Prathap is making around $100,000 annually from sales under his company banner and other income sources.
However, his net worth and income sources are also questionable, as he has been accused of lying about his awards, patents, and projects, and misusing the funds and donations that he received from various individuals and organizations.
Height, Weight & Physical Appearance
| Height (approx.) | in feet & inches– 5’ 8” |
| Weight (approx.) | 65 kg |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Nationality, Caste, and Religion
Prathap is an Indian citizen, who was born and brought up in Karnataka. He belongs to the brown ethnic background and is of Kannadiga descent. As a proud Indian citizen, Prathap follows the path laid out by Hinduism. He belongs to the scheduled caste community.
Bigg Boss Kannada Runner-Up
In January 2024, Drone Prathap participated in the reality show, Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10, hosted by superstar Kiccha Sudeep. He was one of the six finalists, along with Varthur Santhosh, Tukali Santhosh, Karthik Mahesh, Vinay Gowda, and Sangeetha Sringeri.
He managed to reach the top two positions, along with Karthik Mahesh, who emerged as the winner. Drone Prathap was declared as the first runner-up of the show and received a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and an electric scooter.
Parents and Siblings
Drone was born into a poor agricultural family in Netkal village, in Malavalli taluka of Mandya district, in Karnataka. His father’s name is Marimadaiah, who was a farmer. His mother’s name is Savita, he is a homemaker. He has a younger sister, whom he calls Putti.
Girlfriend and Relationships
Drone Prathap’s marital status is unmarried and if we talk about his relationship status then he is single and not dating anyone till the time of writing this article. He has not disclosed any information regarding his girlfriend and relationships to the media. However, he has shared a picture of him with a little girl of 8 years of age on his Instagram account. But this girl is not his daughter, she appears to be his niece.
Controversies
However, in 2020, Prathap’s claims came under scrutiny, when he was unable to answer basic questions about aerospace and drone technology in an interview with a Kannada news channel. He also refused to show any of his drones or provide any proof of his awards. Several media reports and fact-checkers exposed his lies and revealed that:
- The Albert Einstein Innovation Gold Medal, which he claimed to have won, did not exist, and there was no such award at the CeBIT summit.
- The drone that he showed in his photograph, claiming to have built it, was made by a German company, BillzEye Multicoptersysteme, and Prathap was just one of the visitors who took a picture with it at the expo.
- The iREX 2017, where he claimed to have won a gold medal, was not held in 2017, according to the Japan Robot Association, the organizer of the event.
- The Information Technology and Communication Research Medal, that he claimed to have received from the Government of India, was also fake, and there was no such medal awarded by the government.
- The Extraordinary Kannadiga Award, which he claimed to have received from the Cosmopolitan Club, Bangalore, was also dubious, as the club did not have any official website or social media presence, and the award ceremony was not covered by any credible media outlet.
In addition to these, Prathap also faced legal trouble, when he was arrested by the Bengaluru police for violating quarantine rules, after he traveled from Bihar to Hyderabad, and then to Bengaluru, without following the mandatory 14-day isolation period. He was also accused of switching off his phone and going untraceable when the authorities tried to contact him.
Current Status
After facing these controversies, Prathap’s reputation and credibility were severely damaged, and he lost the trust and support of many people, who had previously admired and praised him. He also faced criticism and backlash from the scientific community, the media, and the public, for lying about his achievements, misappropriating other people’s work, and violating the law.
Prathap, however, has not admitted to any of his lies and has maintained that he is a genuine drone scientist, who has done remarkable work for society. He has also claimed that he is a victim of a conspiracy, and that some people are trying to defame him and sabotage his career.
As of 2024, Prathap is still running his company, Dronark Aerospace, along with his partner, Maniraju Manohar. He is also active on social media platforms, such as Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, where he posts pictures and videos of his drones and his travels. He has also participated in the reality show, Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10, as one of the contestants.
Drone Prathap is a controversial figure, who has been hailed as a prodigy and a genius, as well as exposed as a fraud and a liar. His story is a cautionary tale of how fame and success can be achieved and lost, based on the authenticity and integrity of one’s work. It is also a reminder of the importance of verifying the facts and sources, before believing or spreading any information.
