The Rajya Sabha on Thursday (December 05)  passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, which replaces the Aircraft Act, 1934. 

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on August 09 2024. 

The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak (BVV) retains most provisions of the Aircraft Act. BVV aims to regulate and control the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export and import of aircraft and incidental matters. 

The BVV adds news offences and penalties. Now, violating regulations of carriage in aircraft on any specified articles, flying aircraft in a dangerous manner and failing to comply with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, will be punishable with imprisonment upto 3 years or fine up to Rs. 1 crore. 

The BVV also adds a second appeal system. Under the Aircraft Act, the Central Government had the power to appoint an officer not below the rank of the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India to adjudicate on penalties. The decision of such an officer could be appealed before an Appellate Officer. Now, under the BVV the Appellate Officer's decision could be appealed before a Second Appellate Officer, who is higher than the rank of First Appellate Officer.