In recent decades, India’s aviation market has transformed dramatically, owing to rising passenger volume, infrastructural expansion, and governmental reforms.
For a developing country like India, and the ever-expanding tourism, travel, and hence the aviation industry as a whole, having a young 37-year-old Civil Aviation Minister leadership can make a significant difference. For all of you aviation buffs out there, Mr Naidu’s visage will undoubtedly appear in the news from time to time.
Civil Aviation Minister of India
Ram Mohan Naidu, 37, is the youngest minister in the Union Cabinet. The first-time minister is in charge of India’s booming civil aviation sector, which has practically become a duopoly between IndiGo (6E) and Air India (AI).
In an interview with Vinay Pandey at the ET India Ascends event in November, Naidu stated that he does not want to support a duopoly and plans to make it simpler for airlines to commence operations in the nation.
Also Read: Civil Aviation Minister Don’t Like Air India and IndiGo Duopoly
His views and ideas have received extensive attention in the mainstream media. But, very few people know that it was an accident that brought Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu into politics. The year was 2012. In this post, we’ll discuss more about his personal and political journeys.
Early Life
Naidu was born in Nimmada, Srikakulam. He is the son of Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu, a Telugu Desam Party member, and Kinjarapu Vijayakumari. His father was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Tekkali constituency before becoming a Member of Parliament (MP) from Srikakulam. His father then served as Union Minister for Rural Development in the United Front administration from 1996 to 1998.
Naidu finished his primary education in Srikakulam and later did his schooling from Delhi Public School in R. K. Puram, Delhi after his father became an MP and relocated to Delhi. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in the United States, as well as an MBA at Long Island University. He worked in Singapore for a year before returning to India.
Personal Life
In June 2017, Naidu married Sravya Bandaru, the youngest daughter of Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, a former minister and Telugu Desam Party Vice President.
Ram Mohan Naidu’s Unexpected Entry into Politics
It was an accident that brought the 37-year-old Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu into politics. The year was 2012.
Ram Mohan Naidu was working in Singapore in 2012 when he received a phone call from India informing him that his father, Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu, had died in a road accident. He raced back to India and never really left.
Naidu ran for the TDP in his father’s Srikakulam constituency in 2014 and was elected MP at the age of 26. He won again in 2019 and the latest 2024 election, defeating the YSRCP candidate by 320,000 votes.
While Naidu had no intention of becoming a politician, he embraced the position. As a Member of Parliament, he was active. He served on a number of standing committees, including those for agriculture, animal husbandry, food processing, railways, home affairs, tourism, and culture. In Parliament, he pushed vigorously for menstrual health and sex education, as well as the repeal of the Goods and Services Tax on sanitary napkins.
He founded ‘Politics for Impact’, an internship for students since he believes that youth can play an important part in politics and sin olving people’s concerns. Selected students will labor in their constituency for two months.
Participation in the United Nations (UN)
Ram Mohan Naidu represented India at the United Nations General Assembly’s 22nd First Committee on Disarmament conference.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to preserving the UN Charter’s values and advancing international peace via multilateral cooperation. He underlined the necessity of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation activities while representing India at the United Nations.
Appointment as Civil Aviation Minister
On June 10, 2024, Naidu was appointed as the Minister of Civil Aviation. Naidu is now the 33rd Minister of Civil Aviation, having taken office in June 2024, and represents the Srikakulam Constituency in the Lok Sabha, having been elected in the 16th, 17th, and 18th Lok Sabha sessions. He is the TDP’s National General Secretary and its Lok Sabha leader.
Naidu outlined his vision for his ministry and the Civil Aviation sector, stating that the passenger will be at the “core” of all policies and activities. MoCA will also prioritize increasing air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and towns, as well as remote locations, and will actively engage with states on this issue.
The New APMC (Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference) Chairman
Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu was unanimously chosen chairperson of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference (APMC) in Delhi in September 2024, less than three months after becoming Union Minister. Representatives from 40 member states endorsed his leadership after he was nominated by Singapore and supported by Bhutan.
In his acceptance speech, Rammohan Naidu expressed gratitude for the distinction and committed to work to improve accessibility in the aviation sector across member countries.
He stressed the importance of Asia-Pacific cooperation in making civil aviation more user-friendly and improving transportation ties between countries. The conference intends to push projects that will bring the benefits of air travel closer to the general public, as well as solve difficulties encountered by the regional aviation industry.
Rammohan Naidu’s leadership is expected to drive progress toward these aims.
The passing of the Bill- Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024
In early December, the Rajya Sabha enacted a measure to amend the Aircraft Act of 1934, which allows for aviation manufacturing and maintenance, eliminates redundancies, and simplifies commercial operations.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, seeks to provide for the design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and related equipment, to empower the Central Government to regulate the issuance of Radio Telephone Operator (Restricted) Certificates and Licenses to facilitate business, and to make rules to implement the Convention on International Civil Aviation and other matters relating to civil aviation security.
“If you look at the true sense of why we want to promote aviation why we want to make it one of the best sectors in the country, in the whole world, because when we talk about aviation we talk about tourism, when we talk about aviation we talk about economic activity, when we talk about aviation we talk about real estate growth, we talk about job creation. When we talk about aviation we talk about industry…that is why aviation is a very important nodal sector that needs to be given that push.”
Ram Mohan Naidu, after passing the Bill, calling it a “Historic Milestone”
Other Civil Aviation Projects implemented
To summarize, some of the key aviation projects started under Naidu’s leadership are as follows:
- Expansion of Airport Infrastructure: The government allocated $11 billion for new airport construction and upgrades of existing facilities, supporting the rapid growth of air traffic. India currently operates 157 airports, with plans for further expansion, including projects like the Bhogapuram Airport, set to open by December 2025.
- UDAN Scheme: The Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) has expanded its network to 538 routes, making air travel more accessible in underserved regions. This initiative integrates helicopters, seaplanes, and wide-body aircraft, increasing domestic and regional connectivity.
- Focus on MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul): Policy reforms, including a uniform 5% GST rate on MRO components and extended timelines for imports, have positioned India as an emerging MRO hub. These changes aim to reduce dependence on foreign maintenance facilities and boost local employment.
- Sustainability and Green Energy: India has advanced efforts toward sustainable aviation, with 73 airports now operating on green energy. Initiatives also focus on sustainable aviation fuel and carbon neutrality, exemplified by Cochin International Airport, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
- Affordability and Regional Development: The minister emphasized reducing airfares and expanding air travel to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This includes introducing DigiYatra for biometric-based quick check-ins at smaller airports and encouraging more regional airline operations.
- Indo-French Aviation Collaboration: Strengthening international ties, Naidu signed agreements with France to advance technological exchange and investment in sustainable aviation.
These initiatives align with India’s goal to become the world’s largest domestic aviation market while making air travel more accessible and environmentally sustainable.
Also Read: India’s youngest minister Ram Mohan Naidu aims to transform civil aviation sector
Bottom Line
Ram Mohan Naidu has already demonstrated his leadership capabilities in just six months since his appointment in June 2024, during a period when the aviation industry is experiencing substantial growth.
From being utterly disconnected from politics to unexpectedly becoming involved, he took his leadership seriously and, at such a young age, has been implementing substantial adjustments that a New India will require in the future.
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