Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday, 12 November 2026, announced that a fully indigenously manufactured civilian aircraft will be ready within the next two years, marking a significant milestone for India's aerospace ambitions. The minister made the announcement while addressing a special plenary session at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.

India's Aviation Sector: A Global Model

Speaking on the theme 'The Next Step for Indian Aviation: Connectivity, Capacity, Competitiveness', Minister Naidu declared that India's civil aviation sector now stands as a model for the world. He highlighted that the number of operational airports has surged from 74 in 2014 to 166 today, with annual passenger numbers reaching 25 crore, driven largely by the government's flagship UDAN scheme, which has made air travel accessible to the common man.

UDAN Phase 2 and Infrastructure Scale-Up

The minister outlined the second phase of the UDAN scheme, launched with a budget of ₹30,000 crore, under which an additional 100 airports and 200 modern heliports are planned to be built across the country by 2036. He also pointed to technological advancements at airports, noting that the Digi Yatra system has slashed passenger entry time from 90 seconds to just 20 seconds.

Andhra Pradesh in the Spotlight

Minister Naidu praised Andhra Pradesh for its rapid strides in civil aviation under Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, specifically commending the completion of Bhogapuram International Airport six months ahead of its stipulated deadline. He also noted that the state government is working to establish an Aerospace and Defence City near Lepakshi in Anantapur district, and that plans are underway to launch seaplane services connecting Prakasam Barrage, Srisailam, and Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad.

Call to Industry and India-Canada Aviation Ties

Addressing industry leaders and young entrepreneurs, the minister urged them to invest in aircraft component manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), drones, and air taxis, calling this 'the right time' to enter the sector. Separately, on the sidelines of the summit, Minister Naidu met with Maninder Sidhu, Canada's Minister of International Trade, and posted about the meeting on X. 'Discussed opportunities to deepen India-Canada cooperation in civil aviation, with more partnerships between Indian MSMEs and the Canadian aviation industry. We also explored strengthening air cargo connectivity to facilitate bilateral trade and opportunities in aviation training and skill development,' he said.

The plenary also featured senior voices from industry and policy, including Vaibhav Vohra, Co-Chair of the CII National Committee on Civil Aviation and MD of Continental Carriers; Jodhbir Singh Sachdeva, Partner at KPMG; Anubhav Kumar, Head of Strategy and Government Policy at Boeing India and South Asia; and Dr Abhay Pashilkar, Director of CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories. With a Made-in-India civil aircraft now promised within two years, the focus will swiftly shift to execution timelines and the domestic supply chain's readiness to deliver.