Visakhapatnam, November 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India is expected to have its first fully indigenously manufactured civil aircraft ready within the next two years, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced on Thursday.
Addressing a special plenary session at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, Naidu said India’s civil aviation sector had emerged as a model for the world and was entering a new phase of growth driven by domestic manufacturing, expanding connectivity and technological innovation.
Speaking on the theme, “The Next Step for Indian Aviation: Connectivity, Capacity, Competitiveness”, he said the number of airports in the country had increased from 74 in 2014 to 166. The UDAN regional connectivity scheme had made air travel more accessible, taking annual passenger numbers to around 25 crore.
Under the second phase of UDAN, launched with an allocation of Rs 30,000 crore, the government plans to develop another 100 airports and 200 modern heliports by 2036, he said.
Naidu also highlighted the use of technology such as Digi Yatra, which has reduced passenger entry time at airports from around 90 seconds to 20 seconds.
Praising Andhra Pradesh’s progress under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said Bhogapuram International Airport had been completed six months ahead of schedule. The state is also working on an Aerospace and Defence City near Lepakshi in Anantapur district. Plans are being prepared to introduce seaplane services linking Prakasam Barrage, Srisailam and Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad.
The minister urged industry players and young entrepreneurs to invest in aircraft component manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), drones and air taxis.
Separately, Naidu said he had met Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the summit. Discussions covered aviation partnerships involving Indian MSMEs, air cargo connectivity, training and skill development.
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