President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act of 1934. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on December 11, following the bill’s passage in both Houses of Parliament.
“An Act to provide for regulation and control of the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export and import of aircraft and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto,” said the notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The Rajya Sabha approved the bill by voice vote last Thursday, weeks after the Lok Sabha had cleared it on August 9.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak (BBV) 2024 aims to modernise India’s regulatory framework for aviation by eliminating redundancies and enhancing ease of doing business in the sector.
Key Features of the Bill
- The Act regulates the design, manufacture, maintenance, and operation of aircraft, as well as their import and export.
- BBV 2024 is expected to streamline regulatory processes, fostering growth in India’s rapidly expanding aviation industry.
- Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu highlighted the change in the bill’s title from English to Hindi as a nod to India’s cultural heritage. “While the Hindi name may take time to adapt to, it reflects India’s identity,” he said in the Rajya Sabha.
The Aircraft Act of 1934, which was enacted during the British colonial era and amended 21 times over nine decades, has now been replaced. This change is seen as a step towards shedding colonial-era regulations in a sector that has become synonymous with cutting-edge technology and global connectivity.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 aligns with the government’s vision of a self-reliant India and signals a modernized approach to aviation, marking a new chapter in India’s legislative and industrial history.