The Ministry of Civil Aviation organized a high-level stakeholder meeting chaired by Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to review India's preparedness for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption and compliance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the global carbon reduction framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The meeting was attended by senior officials from multiple ministries including Civil Aviation, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as well as representatives from DGCA, Airports Authority of India, Bureau of Indian Standards, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Oil Marketing Companies, airlines, airport operators and other key stakeholders.
The meeting reviewed progress in SAF production, certification, and supply chain development across the country, specifically examining the status of various SAF production projects being implemented by Oil Marketing Companies and their commissioning timelines. Stakeholders discussed measures required to ensure timely availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to meet anticipated demand from 2027 onwards. Minister Naidu emphasized that India is approaching SAF not merely as a compliance requirement but as a strategic national opportunity where multiple stakeholders including farmers stand to gain from the SAF value chain.
India's immediate priority is to achieve the 1% CORSIA blending requirement in the most cost-effective manner, with the mandatory phase of CORSIA beginning on 1 January 2027. The meeting reviewed the proposed implementation roadmap for SAF blending mandate, including roles and responsibilities of Oil Marketing Companies, airlines and airport operators. Discussions covered establishing a robust accounting, monitoring and reporting framework aligned with ICAO/CORSIA requirements, development of a national SAF Registry with end-to-end traceability, and measures to facilitate certification and market access.
The Minister highlighted that 104 airports in the country have switched entirely to 100% green energy usage, up from zero in 2014, and airlines are being supported to have modern and fuel-efficient fleets through the leasing ecosystem. The draft SAF policy is now in its final stages with multiple inter-ministerial consultations and stakeholder engagements ongoing. The government aims to ensure this transition imposes the least possible burden on passengers and airlines by studying all possible SAF pathways and identifying the most cost-effective mechanism from production to drop-in at the airport.
The meeting further deliberated on India's preparedness for CORSIA implementation, including the issuance of Letters of Authorisation and the development of a CORSIA-compliant carbon market framework in India. The Government of India remains committed to promoting domestic production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, strengthening India's aviation ecosystem, reducing carbon emissions from international aviation and positioning India as a global leader in sustainable aviation.