Union Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu introduced the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 which intends to amend the currently used legislation Aeronautics Act of 1934. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in the last session of parliament and the objective of the Bill is legal modernisation as well as streamlining the civil aviation regulations of India per the international standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Read More: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
Growth Of India’s Aviation Sector
India’s aviation industry has witnessed remarkable expansion during the previous decade which made it one of the fastest-developing markets in the world. The industry has been crucial for economic growth thanks to improved infrastructure as well as increased fleet size. Let us now take a brief view of the important achievements:
Union Minister Naidu stressed the importance of the aviation industry for the economic growth of the countries and the demand of the people for increased and better connectivity.
Key Features
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 is the MHA’s next major step in making improvements to both policy and operational aspects in the case of civil aviation services in India. The focus of this enactment is to streamline operations in the Industry and make it more transparent and better integrated with the international standards. There are some significant things which need to be noted in this transformational bill, below are the key features of this bill:
-
Modernised Regulatory Framework: This is the first time that the provisions for Aircraft design and manufacturing have been included in Indian aviation laws. There is an unambiguous assignment of duties and responsibilities to aviation bodies such as DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).
-
Appeals Mechanism: Allowing the establishment of a structured tribunal system to ensure accountability and transparency.
-
Legal Backing to Rules: The establishment of sound legal backing to the existing and other regulatory changes to come in the future helps uplift aviation laws.
-
Ease of Flying: Intended to streamline air travel and also attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and general infrastructure improvement.
-
Alignment with International Standards: Assures that the legal requirements of aviation in India meet ICAO and relevant international conventions.
Read More: The New Era of Indian Criminal Law Reform
Concerns and Challenges
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 has brought new tensions and areas of concern despite progressive reforms, one of which is the ability to include a wide spectrum of their target population into any plans. It has inclusivity, regulatory independence and infrastructural problems as focal points of its arguments. The following outlines the major issues that were raised:
-
Inclusivity: Hindi-speaking populations will feel left out.
-
Agencies Autonomy: There are concerns about the weak autonomy of regulatory bodies such as DGCA and BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) since the only appeals left are the Union Government.
-
Land Availability: Highlighting a growing constraint for new airport construction to match emerging needs, Minister Naidu indicated the difficulty of securing land for new airport development.
Impact Of The Bill
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, is expected to bring about radical changes which will change the face of many sectors particularly the aviation sector of India. The bill aims to uplift the infrastructure, economy, and competitiveness of India to ensure the country becomes a centre for aviation. Here’s a closer look at its potential impact:
-
Boost to Infrastructure: Facilitates the building of new strategic and technologically advanced airports and improves the level of connectivity.
-
Economic Growth: Financial resources, employment, and growth of specific areas will be encouraged through the legislation.
-
Global Competitiveness: Reform the Indian aviation industry and make it a higher standard than its peers around the globe.
Conclusion
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 is a key milestone in the progress of the Indian civil aviation industry. Whereas it talks about economic prosperity and clarity on regulations, issues of inclusivity and agency autonomy bring forth the challenges of the reforms. How much the Bill is successful will be the deciding factor as to how Indian aviation will evolve and stand globally.
Join the conversation and stay informed! Visit the Jaagruk Bharat community page here and be part of an active, engaged community.
