New Delhi, August 10. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Monday that the government is working to increase women’s participation in India’s aviation sector to 25 percent. He noted that India is already well ahead of the global average in terms of the proportion of women pilots and now aims to extend this success to other areas of the aviation industry.
Addressing an event, the minister said that around 15 percent of pilots in India are currently women, compared to only about 5 percent globally. Describing this as a significant achievement for India, he said it was now time to increase women’s representation across every segment of the aviation sector.
Ram Mohan Naidu said, “Nari Shakti is taking India’s aviation growth to new heights. Around 15 percent of our pilots are women, compared to a global average of only 5 percent. We want to increase this share to 25 percent and create more opportunities for women across the aviation sector.”
He said India has consistently encouraged women to enter the aviation industry, contribute to its growth and take up leadership roles. While the country has made significant progress in this direction, he emphasized that there is still considerable scope for further improvement.
The minister proudly noted that India has emerged as an example for several countries around the world in terms of women’s participation in aviation. He said the proportion of women pilots in the Indian aviation industry is around three times the global average, reflecting the country’s inclusive approach and the opportunities available to women.
Ram Mohan Naidu clarified that the government’s target of 25 percent is not limited to women pilots but covers the entire aviation workforce. This includes employment opportunities at airports, technical services, management positions, emerging technologies and future aviation services.
He said, “Whether it is airport-related work, emerging technologies such as eVTOL, or other evolving ecosystems within the aviation sector, we want to see greater participation of women everywhere.”
The minister said the aviation industry must create an environment where women can work comfortably, advance in their careers and take on leadership positions. He also emphasized that women should be provided not only employment opportunities but also opportunities to participate in decision-making and assume leadership roles.
Referring to the strong participation of women at the event, Naidu said he was encouraged to see a large number of women showing interest in the aviation sector. He expressed hope that in the coming years, more young women would pursue careers as pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, aviation managers and professionals in other areas of the industry.
