New Delhi, Aug 2026 : The government is working to increase women’s participation across India’s aviation workforce to 25 per cent, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Monday, highlighting the country’s strong representation of women pilots compared with the global average.
Speaking at an event, Naidu said women currently account for around 15 per cent of pilots in India, significantly higher than the global average of about 5 per cent. He said the government now wants to build on this progress by creating greater opportunities for women across various segments of the aviation industry.
“Nari Shakti is powering India’s aviation growth. Women already make up 15 per cent of our pilots, against 5 per cent globally,” the Minister said, adding that efforts were underway to raise women’s participation to 25 per cent across the aviation workforce.
Naidu said India had consistently provided opportunities for women to enter the aviation sector, contribute to its growth and take up leadership positions. He stressed that the country must continue building on this progress and encourage greater participation across emerging areas of aviation.
The Minister said India’s record on women pilots was a matter of pride, noting that the country’s representation was substantially higher than the international average. According to him, women pilots already account for 15 per cent of the country’s pilot workforce, putting India well ahead of the global figure of 5 per cent.
However, he clarified that the government’s 25 per cent target would not be restricted to pilots. The broader objective is to increase women’s representation throughout the aviation ecosystem, including airport operations, emerging technologies and new forms of air mobility.
“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,” Naidu said.
The Minister said the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector presents an opportunity to bring more women into diverse professional roles. As the country develops new airports, expands air connectivity and explores emerging technologies such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, he said women should have a greater role in shaping the sector’s future.
Naidu also underlined the importance of creating a supportive working environment in which women can participate comfortably and advance into senior and leadership positions. He said greater representation would require continued efforts to encourage young women to consider aviation as a long-term career option.
Referring to the participation of women at the event, the Minister said he was encouraged by the “good numbers” and expressed hope that their presence would inspire more women to pursue opportunities in aviation.
With India’s aviation industry expanding rapidly, the government’s proposed 25 per cent target reflects an effort to ensure that women become a larger part of the sector’s workforce and leadership. The initiative could also help widen career opportunities for women beyond the cockpit and across the broader aviation ecosystem.
Team Maverick
