Goa | 31th January 2026: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) executed a Share Subscription and Shareholders Agreement (SSSHA) with the deep-tech startup Maraal Aerospace, incubated at IIT Kanpur, during IEW 2026 in Goa on January 29, 2026.
This collaboration marks a pivotal advancement in India’s clean-energy and aerospace sectors, with HPCL investing Rs. 2 crores under its Startup Support Initiative ‘HP Udgam’ to expedite Maraal’s product development, testing, and system validation for quicker realization and scale-up.
Maraal Aerospace is pioneering India’s first solar-powered long-endurance drone, which utilizes clean-energy propulsion. This innovative product features high-efficiency aerodynamics, providing up to 12 hours of endurance, a one-way range of 150 km, and an operational altitude of up to 6 km with economical operating costs.
It is aimed at enhancing India’s defense capabilities and critical civilian applications, including surveillance, ISR missions, asset inspection, and disaster management.
Future plans include a hybrid solar and hydrogen variant aimed at achieving 24-hour endurance and a High Altitude Pseudo Satellite platform designed for missions lasting over 90 days. This partnership underscores HPCL’s commitment to bolstering India’s indigenous innovation ecosystem within clean energy and deep-tech startups.
