Women pilots' share in India will increase to 25 pc: Civil Aviation Minister
New Delhi, Aug 10
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said the government is working to increase women's participation across India's aviation workforce to 25 per cent, building on the country's significantly higher representation of women pilots compared to the global average.
Speaking at an event, Naidu said women currently account for around 15 per cent of pilots in India, compared with about 5 per cent globally, and stressed the need to create more opportunities for women across different segments of the aviation ecosystem.
"Nari Shakti is powering India's aviation growth. Women already make up 15 per cent of our pilots, against 5 per cent globally," the Civil Aviation Minister said.
"We're working to take that to 25 per cent and create even more opportunities for women across the aviation workforce," he stated.
He said India has consistently provided space for women to enter, participate, contribute and take leadership roles in the aviation sector, adding that the country's progress in this regard needs to be built upon further.
"I always say that, proudly say that, in terms of global aviation, the numbers that India shows in terms of women participation is much, much higher," Naidu said.
He noted that India is already halfway towards its target in terms of women pilots, with their share standing at 15 per cent, against the global average of 5 per cent.
The Minister said the 25 per cent target would cover not just pilots but women's participation across the wider aviation workforce and emerging areas of the sector.
"No matter what, let it be the airport-related jobs, or let it be the eVTOLs, or whatever ecosystems that we are creating, we want to see more participation of women," he said.
Naidu also highlighted the importance of encouraging more women to join the aviation workforce and said the sector should continue creating an environment where women can participate comfortably and take on leadership roles.
Referring to the participation of women at an event, he said he was encouraged to see "good numbers" and expressed hope that more women would be inspired to pursue careers in aviation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative, but let's not just limit this to numbers. We need to ensure equal pay, safe working conditions, and proper maternity benefits for women in aviation. 25% is a good target, but the real change lies in the ecosystem supporting women throughout their careers.
Impressive numbers from India! As someone from the US, I had no idea India was doing so well with 15% women pilots versus our global average of 5%. This is inspiring and I hope the world can learn from India's approach to women in aviation.
As a woman who always dreamed of flying, this is so motivating! ✈️ India is truly leading by example. But we also need more awareness in smaller towns—many talented girls don't even know these career paths exist. Let's take aviation education to every corner of the country.
Good to see India progressing, but let's be practical here. The 15% to 25% jump requires serious investment in training infrastructure, scholarships, and mentorship programs. Numbers on paper are easy; implementation needs solid groundwork. Hope the ministry walks the talk.
So proud of our nation! 🇮🇳 Women pilots are proving that sky is not the limit—it's just the beginning. My cousin is a commercial pilot and she says the industry is becoming more welcoming. This announcement gives us even more reason to celebrate and aspire higher.
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