Rajya Sabha Passes Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024: A New Era for India's Aviation Sector

New Delhi, December 6: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, a transformative bill that replaces the nearly century-old Aircraft Act, 1934. The legislation aims to modernize India's aviation sector by promoting manufacturing and maintenance, easing business processes, and aligning domestic standards with global conventions.

The bill, which was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha, was approved after Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu addressed members’ concerns, including rising airfares.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Naidu termed the bill as a landmark step for India's aviation sector.

"This transformative legislation redefines India's aviation sector by replacing the Aircraft Act, 1934, with modern provisions tailored to global standards. It will strengthen our regulatory framework, promote ease of doing business, and enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities," Naidu said.

Key Highlights of the Bill:

1. Modernized Regulatory Framework:
   The bill aims to address ambiguities and redundancies in the Aircraft Act, 1934, ensuring smooth regulatory operations and better oversight.
2. Support for Manufacturing:
   Encourages the design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and aviation equipment within India, boosting domestic capabilities.
3. Ease of Doing Business:
   Provisions to streamline licensing, certification, and other processes to promote aviation industry growth.
4. Enhanced Safety and International Compliance:
   Aligns India with global aviation standards under international conventions, ensuring the highest safety and operational benchmarks.
5. Emergency Provisions and Compensation:
   Empowers the government to act swiftly in emergencies and provides mechanisms for compensation related to damages or losses.
6. Penalty Framework:
   Introduces fines, penalties, and imprisonment for violations, ensuring robust compliance with the Act.

Minister’s Remarks:

Minister Naidu highlighted the aviation sector's role as a driver of economic growth, impacting tourism, job creation, real estate, and industrial activities.

"When we talk about aviation, we talk about tourism, economic activity, job creation, and industrial growth. It is a nodal sector that needs a significant push," he said.

Naidu also mentioned the success of the UDAN scheme, which has operationalized 86 airports and significantly increased passenger traffic. He encouraged states to reduce VAT on aviation fuel to stabilize airfares and hinted at improving mechanisms to address steep fare hikes.

Context and Impact:

The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 was introduced to replace the Aircraft Act, 1934, which had undergone multiple amendments over the years. By addressing gaps, ambiguities, and redundancies, the bill aims to support sustainable growth in the aviation sector while streamlining processes for stakeholders.

The new law will regulate areas such as aircraft design and maintenance, licensing, and civil aviation security. It also establishes provisions for appeals, penalties, and emergency actions.

"This is a proud moment for India as we align with global standards and prepare for an era of aviation excellence," Naidu added.