A bill aimed at modernising India’s civil aviation regulations was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 31), replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu presented the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak amid opposition protests over the bill’s Hindi title.
Why update the existing bill?
Opponents, including RSP member N.K. Premachandran, questioned the rationale behind the bill’s Hindi name, arguing that it could be inaccessible to people from South India.
“What is the logical reason for changing the nomenclature of the bill? People from south India will be unable to even read the name of the Bill,” RSP member N K Premachandran said, opposing the introduction of the Bill.
Naidu responded, stating that the issue of nomenclature had already been addressed during discussions on other legislation, such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
“We are not violating any part of the Constitution,” the minister said.
Aircraft Act amended 21 times
The Minister explained that the Aircraft Act of 1934 had been amended 21 times over the past 90 years, leading to ambiguities and redundancies.
The new bill aims to resolve these issues, streamline regulations, support ease of doing business, and bolster the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by addressing aircraft design, manufacturing, and maintenance.
What does the Bill contain?
The bill also grants the Central government enhanced powers to regulate construction activities, issue directives, detain aircraft, and enforce emergency measures as needed.
It includes measures to regulate aircraft design and manufacturing, aligning with the government’s ambitious ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) vision.