Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak (Bill) 2024
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Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024

Context: Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024, which aims to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act of 1934.  

More On News:

  • The bill seeks to remove redundancies of the Aircraft Act, of 1934, which has been amended 21 times.
  • The Act governs aircraft-related activities such as manufacturing, possession, use, and trade, and the Bill retains these provisions while adding regulations on aircraft design.
  • Offenses, including dangerous flying, carrying arms or explosives, and depositing waste near airports, carry penalties.
  • The Bill also allows for a second appeal against penalty decisions related to violations of its Rules.

Key Features of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024:

  1. Authorities:
    • The Bill maintains three key authorities:
      • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-regulation and safety
      • Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) – security
      • Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) – aircraft accident investigations
    • The government oversees these bodies and can issue directions. Appeals against their orders go to the central government, with no further appeals allowed.
  2. Regulation of Aircraft Design:
    • The Bill keeps the regulation of aircraft activities (manufacturing, operation, trade) and adds powers to regulate aircraft design.
  3. Powers to Make Rules:
    • The Bill retains the government’s ability to make rules on aircraft-related activities, air transport services, and international civil aviation agreements.
    • It adds rules for radio telephone operator certificates under international telecommunication conventions.
  4. Offences and Penalties:
    • Offences punishable by up to 2 years in prison, fines up to ₹1 crore, or both include:
      • Violating rules on prohibited goods (arms, explosives).
      • Dangerous flying practices.
      • Non-compliance with DGCA/BCAS directions.
    • Offences related to airport cleanliness (slaughtering or dumping rubbish) carry penalties of up to 3 years in prison or ₹1 crore fine.
  5. Civil and Criminal Penalties:
    • Civil penalties can go up to ₹1 crore.
    • Criminal penalties may involve up to 2 years imprisonment, ₹1 crore fine, or both for violations related to aircraft activities, international conventions, accident investigations, public health, and aircraft detention.
  6. Adjudication of Penalties:
    • The central government can appoint an officer (Deputy Secretary or above) to adjudicate penalties.
    • Decisions can be appealed to a higher-ranking officer (First Appellate Officer) and then to a Second Appellate Officer.
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