Shares of DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations bounced back on January 13, climbing nearly 8% intraday after the company announced a new collaboration with Tata Communications. The SME stock, surged to ₹110.60 following news of the ₹5.5 lakh order for a static drone designed for Tata Communications’ experience center. DroneAcharya highlighted the importance of this order, describing it as a strategic step toward establishing a robust partnership with Tata Communications. The announcement provided much-needed relief for investors, although the stock remains over 45% below its 52-week high of ₹202, recorded in January 2024. Over the past year, the company’s shares have shed more than 42% of their value, with January so far logging an 8% decline, following a modest 2.6% gain in December 2024. DroneAcharya, based in Pune and founded in 2017, is a key player in India’s growing drone industry, offering services like drone surveys, mapping, surveillance, and underwater inspection. Financially, DroneAcharya’s performance has been mixed. For the six months ending September 2024 (H1 FY25), the company reported a 62.1% drop in profit after tax to ₹1.50 crore, down from ₹3.96 crore in H1 FY24. However, operational revenue rose by 28.8% to ₹26.90 crore, bolstered by its expanding service portfolio.