NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is planning to mandate Indian and foreign airlines operating international flights to report at least 90 per cent of their annual carbon emissions from operations involving international airports in India, as the country prepares to implement global aviation emission norms, ANI reported.
Sources said the proposed requirement is intended to create a level playing field for all operators and prevent economic distortions while helping India meet its obligations under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
The move comes as the government accelerates preparations for the mandatory phase of CORSIA, which begins on January 1, 2027.
Last week, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu chaired a high-level consultation with stakeholders on the rollout of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). India has committed to blending 1 per cent SAF with aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for international flights from 2027, increasing the mandate to 2 per cent in 2028 and 5 per cent by 2030.
The minister said Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are working to scale up domestic SAF production, with refineries at Panipat and Mumbai nearing readiness to begin production. The government is also encouraging greater participation from private companies in SAF manufacturing.
The consultation reviewed progress on SAF production, supply chains, certification, accounting and emissions reporting systems aligned with ICAO’s CORSIA framework, as well as the development of a national SAF registry.
Officials from the ministries of Civil Aviation, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with representatives of the DGCA, airlines, airport operators and OMCs, attended the meeting.
India’s draft SAF policy is in the final stages of preparation. The government has said it aims to achieve the initial 1 per cent blending target in a cost-effective manner while minimising the financial impact on airlines and passengers, according to ANI.
