Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday, 12 November 2026, announced that India aims to develop its own civil aviation aircraft within the next two years, signalling an ambitious push to deepen domestic aerospace manufacturing capabilities and reduce the country's reliance on foreign aircraft makers. The minister made the announcement at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.

Beyond Manufacturing: India Eyes Aircraft Design

Naidu stressed that India's aerospace ambitions go beyond assembling or manufacturing aircraft — the government wants the country to develop indigenous aircraft design capabilities as well. 'We don't want to just get into manufacturing but designing them as well,' he said. The minister positioned indigenous aircraft development as a cornerstone of India's strategy to carve out a larger role in the global aerospace value chain.

Modified UDAN Scheme: 100 Airports Over a Decade

Naidu also reiterated the government's plan to develop 100 airports over the next decade under the Modified UDAN scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026. The scheme envisages a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore spanning FY27 to FY36. The airport expansion programme will prioritise existing unserved airstrips and also includes the construction of 200 modern helipads in remote and difficult terrain, aiming to improve air connectivity for smaller cities and underserved regions.

eVTOLs and Air Cargo on the Horizon

The minister said the government is actively exploring the potential of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are expected to play a growing role in urban and regional air mobility. He also emphasised the need for better utilisation of India's air cargo network to facilitate trade and broader economic activity.

India's Global Positioning: Trust, Trade and Technology

Naidu used the summit platform to articulate India's approach to international partnerships, arguing that sustainable global ties require more than trade and technology. 'Trade alone and technology alone is not enough. What a country needs is trust,' he said. He highlighted India's growing economic weight and its young population as assets in shaping the emerging global order, and noted that India is actively strengthening ties with nations of the Global South, including those in Africa and South America.

The minister's remarks reflect a broader policy direction under which India is seeking to simultaneously expand domestic aviation infrastructure and establish itself as a credible player in aerospace design and manufacturing — two goals that have historically been treated as separate tracks.