AnkuMalik at 13:34, 18 February 2026

2026-02-18T13:34:46Z

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{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2013}}
'''Aviation in India''' can be broadly divided into [[air force|military]] and [[Civil aviation in India|civil aviation]]. India has an extensive civilian [[air transportation]] network and is amongst the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world according to the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA).

The first commercial aviation flight in India took place on 18 February 1911. In March 1953, the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] passed the Air Corporations Act by which the eight domestic airlines operating independently at that time were merged into two government-owned entities. [[Air India]], tracing its origins to 1932, is the [[flag carrier]] of India. [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA), established in 1931, is the regulatory body responsible for civil aviation, working under the [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]]. [[Airports Authority of India]] is responsible for the management of civil aviation infrastructure. {{As of|2025}}, there are 33 [[international airport|international]], 11 [[customs airport|limited international]] airports and more than 100 domestic and private airports. De-regulation in the 1990s opened the industry to private players who cater to majority of the traffic as of 2025, handling more than 200 million air passengers annually.

The [[Indian Armed Forces]] under the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] is responsible for the military operations. Royal Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 with the first squadron commissioned in April 1933. It later became the [[Indian Air Force]] in 1950 and is the major military air operator in India. Indian Air Force maintains a [[List of active Indian military aircraft|fleet]] of various aircraft and [[List of Indian Air Force stations|air bases]] across India. [[Indian Army]], [[Indian Navy]] and [[Indian Coast Guard]] also maintain air infrastructure in a supporting role.

==History==
{{Main|Civil aviation in India#History|History of the Indian Air Force|label 1=History of Indian civil aviation}}
[[File:Tata Sons' Airline Timetable Image, Summer 1935 (interior).jpg|thumb|Tata Sons' Airline time-table, {{circa|1935}}]]

The first commercial aviation flight in India took place on 18 February 1911 from [[Allahabad]] to [[Naini]], a distance of {{convert|6|miles|km|order=flip|abbr=}}, flown by [[Henri Pequet]] using a [[Humber-Sommer biplane|Humber biplane]] carrying 6,500 pieces of mail.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bluffield|first=Robert|publisher=Tattered Flag|date=19 November 2014|title=Over Empires and Oceans: Pioneers, Aviators and Adventurers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ipKPBQAAQBAJ&q=%2218+february+1911%22+allahabad+naini+mail&pg=PA60|page=60|isbn=978-0-9576-8926-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The World's Greatest Civil Aircraft: An Illustrated History|first=Paul E.|last=Eden|publisher=Amber Books|date=21 December 2015|isbn=978-1-7827-4272-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rms9CwAAQBAJ&q=allahabad+naini+mail&pg=PT8}}</ref> In December 1912, the Indian State Air services along with the [[Imperial Airways]] introduced a [[London]]-[[Delhi]] flight, the first International flight to India.<ref name="PIB"/> In 1915, [[Tata Sons]] started a regular airmail service between [[Karachi]] and [[Madras]] marking the beginning of air transportation in the southern part of India.<ref name="PIB">{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=69345|title=100 years of Civil Aviation|date=25 January 2011|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Construction of the first civil airports at [[Calcutta]], Allahabad and [[Bombay]] started in 1924. In April 1927, a department of civil aviation was set-up with the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA) set-up in 1931.<ref name="PIB"/> The Aero Club of India was established in 1927 and the [[Madras Flying Club]] in 1930.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Aviation|year=1952|first=R.L.|last=Saraogi|page=192}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Janardanan|first=Arun|title=
Madras Flying Club: High on quality|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|location=Chennai|date=14 June 2011|language=en|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madras-flying-club-high-on-quality/articleshow/8842647.cms|access-date=25 December 2022}}</ref> On 15 October 1932, Indian aviator [[J. R. D. Tata]] flew a [[De Havilland Puss Moth|Puss Moth]] aircraft carrying mail from [[Karachi airport|Karachi]] to [[Juhu aerodrome]], [[Bombay]]; and the aircraft continued to [[Madras]], marking the beginning of Tata Airlines which later became [[Air India]], the [[flag carrier]] in 1946.<ref name="history">{{cite book|language=en|title=Britain's Imperial Air Routes, 1918 to 1939|last=Higham|first=Robin|page=168|publisher=Shoe String Press|year=1961|isbn=978-0-2080-0171-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=De Havilland Gazette|year=1953|page=103|language=en|journal=De Havilland Aircraft Company}}</ref>

The [[Indian Air Force]] was established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name="clause4">{{cite web|title=HC Deb 3 April 1933 vol 276 cc1473-501|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1933/apr/03/clause-4-relations-between-royal-air|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=8 April 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503154955/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1933/apr/03/clause-4-relations-between-royal-air|date=3 April 1933|archive-date=3 May 2009}}</ref> The enactment of the Indian Air Force Act 1932 stipulated out their auxiliary status and enforced the adoption of the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, brevets and insignia.<ref name="IAF">{{cite web|title=History of the IAF|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=98|work=Official Website|publisher=Webmaster IAF – Air Headquarters|access-date=7 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409235005/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=98|archive-date=9 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="airpower3">{{cite journal|last=Bedi|first=Sanjeev|date=Summer 2008|title=Strategic Role of Air Power|journal=Air Power Journal|volume=3|publisher=Center for Air Power Studies|issue=2|pages=27–45|url=http://www.aerospaceindia.org/Journals/Summer%202008/Sanjeev%20Bedi.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723023345/http://www.aerospaceindia.org/Journals/Summer%202008/Sanjeev%20Bedi.pdf|archive-date=2019-07-23|url-status=usurped|access-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> On 1 April 1933, the IAF commissioned its first squadron, No.1 Squadron, with four [[Westland Wapiti|Westland Wapiti biplanes]] and five Indian pilots.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goyal|first=S.N.|title=1939–45 Second World War: Air Force Reminiscences|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Goyal.html|work=Sainik Samachar|publisher=Indian Air Force|date=October 1993|access-date=8 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006180501/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Goyal.html|archive-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> In 1933–34, Indian Trans Continental Airways, Madras Air Taxi Services and Indian National Airways commenced operations.<ref name="PIB"/> The Indian Aircraft Act was propagated in 1934 and formulated in 1937.<ref name="PIB"/> In 1940, [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL) was set up at [[Bangalore]] and India's first aircraft rolled out for test flight in July 1941.<ref name="PIB"/> The Indian Air Force took part in the [[Second World War]] and was christened as Royal Indian Air Force. In 1950, when India became a republic, the prefix was dropped and it reverted to being the Indian Air Force.<ref name=Ahluwalia2012>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sabUQ7zKUvsC&pg=PA41|title=Airborne to Chairborne: Memoirs of a War Veteran Aviator-Lawyer of the Indian Air Force|last=Ahluwalia|first=A.|date=2012|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|isbn=978-1-4691-9657-2|page=41|language=en}}</ref> In March 1953, the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] passed the Air Corporations Act through which the eight independent domestic airlines in existence: Deccan Airways, Airways India, Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Air Lines, Indian National Airways, Air India, Air Services of India were merged into two government owned entities of [[Indian Airlines]] and Air India.<ref name="PIB"/> In 1960, the first [[jet aircraft]] was introduced for commercial passenger traffic.<ref name="Jet">{{cite book|last1=Sabharwal|first1=Gopa|publisher=Penguin India|title=India Since 1947: The Independent Years|year=2007|isbn=978-0-14-310274-8|page=77}}</ref>
[[File:Mig21_pair_during_1971_war.jpg|thumb|left|A pair of [[Indian Air Force]] [[MiG-21]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]]]
In 1961, the Indian Air Force provided air support in [[Operation Vijay (1961)|Operation Vijay]] as a part of [[Liberation of Goa|liberation]] of [[Portuguese India|Portuguese colony of Goa]].<ref name=brgoa1>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1960s/Goa01.html|title=The Liberation of Goa: 1961|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|author=Jagan Pillarisetti|access-date=17 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107025811/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1960s/Goa01.html|archive-date=7 January 2012}}</ref> The Indian Air Force achieved air superiority during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/1965-war-we-achieved-air-superiority-in-three-days-says-air-force-marshal-arjan-singh_1805797.html|title=1965 war: We achieved air superiority in three days, says Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh|date=4 October 2015|access-date=7 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614221636/http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/1965-war-we-achieved-air-superiority-in-three-days-says-air-force-marshal-arjan-singh_1805797.html|archive-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> In 1966, the IAF started inducting [[MiG-21]] and [[Sukhoi Su-7]] fighter jets.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Whale of a Fighter: the Su-7 in IAF Service|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Su-7.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|access-date=5 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230183851/http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Su-7.html|archive-date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Indian Air Force played a major part in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], carrying out strikes and providing air support for [[Indian Army]] and [[Indian Navy]].<ref name="IAF71">{{cite web|title=The War of December 1971|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=71|publisher=Indian Air Force|access-date=3 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410000055/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_page.php?pg_id=71|archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Years later, Longewala reminds the do-or-die battle|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Years-later-Longewala-reminds-the-do-or-die-battle/articleshow/27554710.cms|access-date=23 August 2015|work=The Times of India|agency=India Times|issue=18 December 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018220423/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Years-later-Longewala-reminds-the-do-or-die-battle/articleshow/27554710.cms|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Boeing_777-237(LR)_Air_India_VT-ALD,_LHR_London,_England_(Heathrow_Airport),_United_Kingdom_PP1369760077.jpg|thumb|[[Air India]], the [[flag carrier]] of India]]
In 1972, the International Airports Authority of India (IAAI) was constituted with the National Airports Authority established in 1986. In 1995, both the agencies were merged to form [[Airports Authority of India]], responsible for the management of civil aviation infrastructure in India.<ref name="PIB"/> Until 1990, international aviation was restricted to the airports in the four major metros of India, viz., [[Delhi]], Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. In 1991, the aviation industry was de-regulated to allow the entry of private airlines to provide [[air charter|charter]] services with East West Airlines becoming the first private airline to operate in the country after 37 years.<ref name="PIB"/> In 1994, private airlines were permitted to operate scheduled services and a number of private airlines commenced domestic operations.<ref name="PIB"/> On 11 May 1999, the Indian Air Force was called in to provide close air support to the Indian Army at the height of the ongoing [[Kargil conflict]] with the use of helicopters.<ref name=iafo>{{cite web|url=http://indianairforce.nic.in/|title=Official website of Indian Air Force|access-date=28 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723110003/http://indianairforce.nic.in/|archive-date=23 July 2010}}</ref> In 2003, [[low cost airline]]s entered service in the Indian market with [[Air Deccan]].<ref name="PIB"/> In 2004, [[Government of India]] approved setting up of the first airports with private partnership at [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and Bangalore.<ref name="PIB"/> In December 2004, other Indian carriers apart from Air India, with a minimum of 5 years of continuous operations and a fleet of 20 aircraft, were permitted to operate international services.<ref name="PIB"/> In 2007, the Regional Airlines policy was formulated to allow carriers to operate service within a particular region.<ref name="PIB"/> The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) was set up in 2009.<ref name="PIB"/>

==Civil aviation==
{{main|Civil aviation in India}}
The [[Ministry of Civil Aviation (India)|Ministry of Civil Aviation]] is responsible for civilian aviation, through regulatory oversight by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dgca.nic.in/dgca/visi-ind.htm|title=DGCA Rules and Regulations|publisher=DGCA|access-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022010659/http://www.dgca.nic.in/dgca/visi-ind.htm|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Civil aviation in India#National Civil Aviation Policy 2016|National Civil Aviation Policy 2016]] set the guidelines and goals for operations of civil aviation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/govt-releases-national-civil-aviation-policy-impact-of-fdi-in-aviation-sector-116072200284_1.html|title=Govt releases National Civil Aviation Policy; impact of FDI in Aviation sector|work=IndiaInfoline|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202346/https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-top-story/govt-releases-national-civil-aviation-policy-impact-of-fdi-in-aviation-sector-116072200284_1.html|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> India is the third largest civilian aviation market with airlines carrying more than 200 million passengers in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62424407.cms|title=In next 6-8 months, we expect to get bids for Air India: Jayant Sinha|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Air passenger traffic (In Millions) <ref>{{cite web|title=India: air passenger traffic 2022|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1252947/india-air-passenger-traffic/|access-date=23 September 2023|publisher=Statista}}</ref>
!Financial Year (FY)
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
!2019
!2020
!2021
!2022
!2023
!2024
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Total passengers
|77.4
|88.9
|98.9
|98.2
|103.8
|115.8
|135
|158.4
|183.9
|204.2
|202
|62.1
|105.4
|190.6
|220.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Domestic passengers
|45.3
|53.8
|60.8
|57.9
|60.7
|70.1
|85.2
|103.7
|123.3
|140.3
|141.2
|53.3
|84.2
|136
|153.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|International passengers
|32.1
|35.1
|38.1
|40.3
|43.1
|45.7
|49.8
|54.7
|60.6
|63.9
|60.8
|8.8
|21.2
|54.6
|66.7
|}

=== Network and infrastructure ===
{{main|List of the busiest airports in India|List of airports in India}}
India has various types of airports namely, designated international airports, customs airports with limited international flights, [[Joint-use airport|civil enclave]]s within airbases, domestic airports and private airports.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/aerodrome/public/PUBLIC%20USE%20LICENSED%20AERODROME%20(PUBLIC%20AND%20PRIVATE)%20AND%20HELIPORT%20-converted%20(1).pdf|title=List of Aerodromes Licensed in Public Use Category|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] of India|access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/aerodrome/private/AERODROMES%20LICENSED%20IN%20PRIVATE%20USE%20CATEGORY-converted.pdf|title=List of Aerodromes Licensed in Private Use Category|publisher=[[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] of India|access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> Airports Authority of India is the nodal authority responsible for the development and maintenance of infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/basic_page_files/list%20of%20airport%20bilingual.pdf|title=List of Indian Airports|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=11 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Nov2k23Annex2.pdf|type=pdf|title=Traffic Statistics, November 2023|publisher=Airport Authority of India|access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref> AAI administers the airports divided into four administrative regions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regional Headquarters of AAI|publisher=Airports Authority of India|url=https://www.aai.aero/en/node/4004|access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref> {{As of|December 2023}}, there are 33 [[international airport|international]] and 11 [[customs airport|limited international]] airports apart from 100+ other domestic, private airports and civil enclaves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nocas2.aai.aero/nocas/AAI_Links/Airports-IFR-VFR-200815.pdf|title=List of Indian Airports (NOCAS)|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> The [[UDAN]] regional connectivity scheme, launched in 2016, planned to develop a sustainable air network in over 400 tier-2 cities across India.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik : Civil Aviation Ministry's Regional Connectivity Scheme "UDAN" Launched Today|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151850|agency=[[Government of India]]|publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date=21 October 2016|access-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106001614/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151850|archive-date=6 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/FHm9tEhJ8341miVfdRi2GP/Govt-clears-Rs4500-crore-for-50-regional-airports-under-Uda.html|title=Govt clears Rs 45 billion for 50 regional airports under Udan scheme|first=Tarun|last=Shukla|date=6 March 2017|work=LiveMint|access-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025202301/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/FHm9tEhJ8341miVfdRi2GP/Govt-clears-Rs4500-crore-for-50-regional-airports-under-Uda.html|archive-date=25 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:left; "
|+ Busiest airports by Passenger traffic (2022–23)
|-
! Rank
! Name
! City
! State/{{Tooltip|UT|Union Territories}}
! IATA Code
! Passengers <br> 2022–23
! Passengers <br> 2021–22
! % Change
! Rank Change
|-
|1
|[[Indira Gandhi International Airport]]
|[[Delhi NCR]]
|[[Delhi]]
|DEL
|65,327,833
|39,339,998
|{{increase|1}}66.1
|{{steady|0}}
|-
| 2
|[[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]]
|[[Mumbai]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
|BOM
|43,930,298
|21,747,892
|{{increase|1}}102.0
|{{steady|0}}
|-
| 3
|[[Kempegowda International Airport]]
|[[Bangalore|Bengaluru]]
|[[Karnataka]]
|BLR
|31,911,429
|16,287,097
|{{increase|1}}95.9
|{{steady|0}}
|-
|4
|[[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport]]
|[[Hyderabad]]
|[[Telangana]]
|HYD
|20,996,027
|12,429,796
|{{increase|1}}68.9
|{{steady|0}}
|-
|5
|[[Chennai International Airport]]
|[[Chennai]]
|[[Tamilnadu]]
|MAA
|22,410,000
|16,550,000
|{{increase|1}}22.4
|{{steady|0}}
|-
|6
|[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport]]
|[[Kolkata]]
|[[West Bengal]]
|CCU
|24,68,601
|5,12,582
|{{increase|1}}20.8
|{{increase|1}}1
|}

=== Airlines ===
{{main|List of airlines of India}}
{{Pie chart
| caption = Market share of scheduled domestic airlines of India in December 2025
| value1 = 59.6
| label1 = [[IndiGo]]
| color1 = #0047AB
| value2 = 29.6
| label2 = [[Air India|Air India Group (including Air India Express)]]
| color2 = #BF0000
| value3 = 5.2
| label3 = [[Akasa Air]]
| color3 = #FF8000
| value4 = 4.3
| label4 = [[SpiceJet]]
| color4 = #FF0000
| value5 = 1.3
| label5 = Others
| color5 = grey
}}
{{As of|February 2026}}, India has about nine scheduled airlines operating passenger services apart from other cargo carriers. [[Air India]] is the [[flag carrier]] with [[IndiGo]] being the largest carrier in operation with a 59.6% domestic market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-04 |title=IndiGo’s market share fell nearly 4% in December, 16.21 lakh passengers faced delays or cancellations after flight disruption |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/airlines-aviation-indigos-market-share-fell-nearly-4-in-december-16-21-lakh-passengers-faced-delays-or-cancellations-after-flight-disruption-4131314/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref> [[Air India Express]] is [[Air India]]'s [[Low-cost carrier|low-cost]] subsidiary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patel|first=Deepak|title=Nipun Aggarwal replaces Campbell Wilson as Air India Express Chairman |url=https://www.business-standard.com/companies/people/nipun-aggarwal-replaces-campbell-wilson-as-air-india-express-chairman-125042201318_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250503020853/https://www.business-standard.com/companies/people/nipun-aggarwal-replaces-campbell-wilson-as-air-india-express-chairman-125042201318_1.html |archive-date=2025-05-03 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Military aviation==
{{Further|List of active Indian Air Force aircraft squadrons|List of Indian Air Force stations|List of active Indian military aircraft}}
The [[President of India]] serves as the ex-officio [[Commander-in-Chief, India|commander-in-chief]] of the [[Indian Armed Forces]], with the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]] responsible for policy. The air arms of the armed forces are the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF), commanded by the [[Chief of Air Staff (India)|Chief of Air Staff]], and the [[Indian Naval Air Arm]], [[Army Aviation Corps (India)|Army Aviation Corps]], and [[Indian Coast Guard#Current aircraft|Indian Coast Guard aviation]] are the agencies involved in the military aviation in India. The Indian Air Force is divided into five operational and two functional commands with [[Military air base|bases]] or stations across various commands.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Verma|first1=Bharat|last2=Hiranandani|first2=GM|last3=Pandey|first3=BK|title=Indian Armed Forces|date=2009|publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=978-1-935501-73-2|page=217|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXCUeGUW3VQC&pg=PT217|language=en}}</ref> The armed forces operate a fleet of [[fighter aircraft|fighter]], [[Military transport aircraft|transport]], [[Helicopter|helicopters]], [[Aerial refueling|tankers]], [[Airborne early warning and control|AWAC]], [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]] aircraft and [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s.<ref name="World Air Forces 2024">{{cite web|last = Hoyle|first = Craig|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=98881|title = World Air Forces 2024|publisher= [[FlightGlobal]]|year= 2023|access-date= 27 December 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Transport in India]]
* [[Environmental impact of aviation]]
* [[Aerial lift in India]]
* [[List of airports in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|Indian aviation}}

{{Economy of India related topics}}
{{India topics}}

{{World topic|Aviation in|title=[[Aviation]] around the World|noredlinks=yes}}
{{Portal bar|Aviation|India}}

[[Category:Aviation in India| ]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force]]

Aviation in India - Revision history

AnkuMalik at 13:34, 18 February 2026