BHARATIYA VAYUYAN VIDHEYAK 2024 BILL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Union Civil Aviation Minister is scheduled to introduce the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 Bill in Parliament. 

Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 Bill

• Objective: The bill aims to overhaul and modernise the regulatory framework governing civil aviation in India, replacing the Aircraft Act of 1934.
• Focus: On enhancing safety, regulatory oversight, and the economic regulation of civil aviation, aligning with international conventions and fostering the growth of the aviation sector, according to the draft bill.

o It also seeks to implement provisions of international conventions and enforce international standards, ensuring that India's civil aviation sector is aligned with global best practices.

Highlights of the Bill

• Establishment of Key Regulatory Bodies: The bill formally establishes the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau.
• Economic Regulation: Provisions for economic regulation of civil aviation and air transport services are introduced, including the authority to approve, disapprove, or revise tariffs of operators in the sector.
• More Power to the Centre: The central government is granted expanded powers to regulate or prohibit construction activities, issue directives, detain aircraft, and enact emergency orders, including rules for aircraft registration and marking.
• Updated Definition of Aircraft: Aircraft is proposed to be described as any machine capable of deriving support in the atmosphere from air reactions, excluding reactions against the Earth's surface
• Supports 'Make In India': The bill includes measures to regulate aircraft design and manufacturing, aligning with the 'Make In India' initiative to promote self-reliance in the aviation sector.
• Air Navigation Services: Regulation of air navigation services, covering aeronautical information, charting, meteorological services, and search and rescue operations, is a significant focus of the bill.