Ministry of Civil Aviation issues draft National Air Sports Policy

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a draft National Air Sports Policy (NASP) for public feedback. The draft policy is available on the website of the ministry, and the recommendations for the same can be sent by 5 pm on January 31, this year. According to an official release declared by the ministry on Sunday, the policy aims to leverage India's potential for air sports and places a strong emphasis on guaranteeing international best practices in safety. The policy aims to make India one of the top air sports countries by 2030. India has the potential to be among the leading countries in the world of air sports. It has a big geographical expanse, diverse topography and fair weather conditions. It has a large population, especially the youth. It has a growing culture for adventure sports and aviation. Other than the direct income from air sports activities, the multiplier benefits in terms of development of travel, tourism, infrastructure and local employment, particularly in hilly regions of the nation, are several times greater. The development of air sports hubs across the nation would additionally bring in air sports professionals and tourists from across the world, as per the release. The centre aims to encourage the nation's air sports sector, by making it accessible, affordable, safe, enjoyable and sustainable. Systems and processes need to be simplified and made more transparent; focus on quality, safety, and security need to be improved; and investments in infrastructure, technology, training and awareness building need to be promoted. The release further said that the draft National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022) is a step in this direction and has been formulated based on the inputs obtained from policymakers, air sports practitioners and the public. It is an evolving document and will be revised from time to time. Image Source