Parul
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the National Air Sports Policy 2022 with an aim of tapping the country’s potential in the field of air sports.
The minister said that the policy can be an economic multiplier and generate revenue of Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore.
The policy, according to Minister, will serve to attract air sports enthusiasts from all over the world, especially those who live in areas where harsh winters prevent them from participating. He believes that air sports enthusiasts from Europe, North America, and Australia would flock to India to practice in the winters.
Also Read: UK self sponsorship visa: A new route to gain entry in foreign market
Speaking on the future of Air Sports in India, he said “From a small market size of around 5,000 odd air sports practitioners creating around Rs 80-100 crore of annual revenue in India, I feel we can target over Rs 8,000 – 10,000 crore annual revenue and generate over 1,00,000 direct jobs. The economic multiplier benefits in terms of travel, tourism, support services and local infrastructure development will be over three times.”
Key Objectives of NASP 2022:
• Promote air sports culture in the country
• Enable adoption of international good practices in safety including but not limited to, air sports infrastructure, equipment, operations, maintenance and training
• Develop a simple, stakeholder-friendly and effective governance structure
• Enhance participation and success of Indian sportspersons in global air sports events; and
• Promote design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment in India in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Under the new policy, the Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) will be the nodal body for air sports. Besides, 13 other air sports associations will be formed for various other air sports disciplines — aerobatics, powered aircraft, rotorcraft, ballooning, drones, parachuting, aeromodelling and model rocketry, gliding and powered gliding, hand-gliding, paragliding and paramotoring.
Besides regulating air sports, ASFI will also give certification, organise competitions, and provide awards.
Also Read: New guidelines to protect consumers from misleading advertisements
The government will also request the Goods and Service Tax Council to consider rationalising rates on sports equipment to 5 per cent or less in order to make air sports affordable, as per a report.
