India Set to Manufacture Commercial Aircraft, Aiming for Aviation Self-Reliance

The Indian government plans to establish a special purpose vehicle to spearhead the manufacturing of commercial aircraft as outlined in the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu emphasized the nation’s ambition to become self-reliant and a key player in the global aviation sector.

The Indian government will establish a special purpose vehicle to advance plans for manufacturing commercial aircraft in the country, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced on Wednesday, highlighting the potential of India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024, passed by the Lok Sabha in August, includes provisions to regulate the design and manufacturing of aircraft, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative for self-reliance. 'The government is strongly pushing the idea of India manufacturing its own planes,' Naidu stated, adding that a special purpose vehicle will engage industry stakeholders and others to commence aircraft manufacturing in the next five years.

'We want to be a significant player in manufacturing planes and also export them,' Naidu added. Highlighting India as a key market for major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, Naidu spoke at a conference organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He emphasized India's potential for MRO (maintenance, overhaul, and repair) activities while mentioning that state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) currently manufactures small civilian planes on a smaller scale.