New Delhi, Dec 5, 2024: Parliament on Thursday passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, a bill aimed at replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, 1934, and further improving the ease of doing business within the aviation sector. The bill, which was first approved by the Lok Sabha on August 9, was passed by the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote.
The new legislation seeks to modernize and streamline the aviation regulatory framework by eliminating redundancies and updating provisions that have been amended 21 times since the original Act was enacted. The bill is seen as a significant step toward fostering the growth of the aviation industry in India.
In his reply to the debate in the Upper House, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu addressed concerns over the bill’s title being changed from English to Hindi. He clarified that this decision was made to reflect India’s heritage and culture, emphasizing that there was no violation of Constitutional rules. He acknowledged that the Hindi title might be challenging to pronounce initially but assured that people would eventually adapt.
Naidu also responded to concerns raised by some Members of Parliament about soaring airfares. He assured them that the government has worked on improving accessibility through the Udaan scheme and is committed to making air travel more affordable for passengers.
