“Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Passed: Civil Aviation Minister Hails Milestone”

The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, marks a transformative step in India’s aviation sector by replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act of 1934. Passed by both Houses of Parliament, the bill aims to streamline aviation regulations, align with international standards, and support the sector’s exponential growth. It addresses safety, affordability, governance, and consumer protection while fostering investment and self-reliance in aircraft manufacturing. The Hindi renaming of the bill, a move to honor India’s cultural heritage, sparked debates but aligns with the government’s broader objective of promoting indigenous identity.

Objectives and Scope

• Replaces the Aircraft Act, 1934: Removes redundancies and modernizes regulations.
• Focus Areas: Enhances safety, regulatory oversight, and consumer protection.
• Ease of Doing Business: Streamlines aviation processes to attract investment.
• Alignment with International Standards: Adopts globally recognized practices.

Minister’s Justifications

• Title in Hindi: Reflects India’s heritage and culture without breaching constitutional norms.
• Adaptation: Acknowledges initial difficulty in pronunciation but emphasizes long-term adoption.

Regulatory Improvements

• DGCA Circular Amendment: Removes a 2010 clause allowing airlines to alter fares within 24 hours, ensuring fare transparency.
• Robust Governance: Strengthens tariff monitoring mechanisms to curb pricing irregularities.

Airfare Regulation and Affordability

• Udan Scheme: Addresses accessibility and affordability; operationalized 609 routes and 86 regional airports (66 unserved).
• VAT on Aviation Fuel: Appeals to states like Delhi, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu to lower VAT for consumer relief.
• Airfare Monitoring: Airlines required to inform DGCA about monthly route-wise tariffs.

Safety and Security

• Increased Surveillance: Responds to a spike in threat calls between October and November 2024.
• Data Privacy in DigiYatra: Ensures Aadhaar and boarding data are stored securely and auto-deleted post-travel.

Concerns and Suggestions

• Duopoly in Aviation: MP Priyanka Chaturvedi raised concerns about Air India and Indigo’s dominance in fares and routes.
• Adani Group’s Role: MPs highlighted the privatization of major airports under the Adani Group.
• Call for English Title: Some MPs, like A.A. Raheem, proposed renaming it the Indian Aircraft Act.