Union Civil Aviation Minister – Ram Mohan Naidu
Telugu Desam Party MP Ram Mohan Naidu is the new Civil Aviation Minister, replacing the BJP’s Jyotiraditya Scindia in that role. Mr Naidu is from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Chandrababu Naidu’s party, which has played a key role in ensuring the BJP returns to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Youngest Minister in Modi 3.0 Cabinet : 36 Years
Born Leader Ram Mohan Naidu is son of Late Shri Yerrannaidu Leader of TDP. Ram Mohan Naidu Takes Over Aviation Ministry From Jyotiraditya Scindia. Jyotiraditya Scindia is given Telecommunications.
3 MPs from Andhra Pradesh given place in the Cabinet and Bhupathiraju Sreenivas Varma and Pemmasani Chandrasekhar is given Deputy Portfolios.
Early Life and Education
The son of former Union Minister K Yerran Naidu, he pursued electrical engineering at Purdue University and earned a Master’s degree in business administration from Long Island University. Initially considering a career in Singapore, Ram Mohan returned to his hometown following his father’s death in a road accident in 2012.
Political Career
He fought and won his first election in 2014 at the age of 26, making him the second youngest Member of Parliament (MP) in LS at that time. He won again in 2019. In 2024, he won against the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party’s Tilak Perada by a margin of 327,901 votes.
Legislative Contributions
As an MP, he has introduced a private members’ Bill to draw the attention of the Centre towards the Andhra Pradesh Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.
Role in TDP
When TDP National President Nara Chandrababu Naidu was arrested last year over his alleged involvement in a skill development scam, his son Lokesh along with Ram Mohan played a pivotal role in navigating the political circles of Delhi.
Challenges as Aviation Minister
The new aviation minister faces a host of challenges as Indian carriers plan massive expansion with orders for 1,150 aircraft by 2035. A key issue is the demand from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for more bilateral flying rights, which Indian carriers like Air India oppose, fearing it will undermine their growth plans. However, there is a division among Indian airlines on this.
Developing Indian hubs to rival Dubai/Doha is another priority, but funding expansions at major private airports is a concern.
Rapid airport growth also requires addressing human resource shortages across roles like pilots, engineers, and air traffic controllers.
Aviation consultancy firm CAPA India last week warned of a severe shortage of key aviation employees.
Furthermore, the disinvestment of three major aviation companies — AI Engineering Services (AIESL), AI Airport Services, and regional airline Alliance Air — remains unresolved after being put on hold following the sale of Air India to the Tata Group in 2024.
Air India has shown interest in buying AIESL.
Additionally, the government’s plan to lease out 13 airports to private players has been in cold storage for the past four years. The last round of airport privatisation occurred in 2019 when six airports were leased to Adani Group for 50 years after competitive bidding.
FAQ’s
Who is the new Union Civil Aviation Minister in India?
Ram Mohan Naidu, a Member of Parliament from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is the new Union Civil Aviation Minister, replacing Jyotiraditya Scindia.
How old is Ram Mohan Naidu, and what makes him significant in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet?
At 36 years old, Ram Mohan Naidu is the youngest minister in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet.
What is Ram Mohan Naidu's educational background?
Ram Mohan Naidu pursued electrical engineering at Purdue University and earned a Master’s degree in business administration from Long Island University.
What was Ram Mohan Naidu's career path before entering politics?
Initially, Ram Mohan Naidu considered a career in Singapore. However, he returned to his hometown after his father's death in a road accident in 2012.
What role did Ram Mohan Naidu play during Chandrababu Naidu's arrest?
Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Nara Lokesh, played a crucial role in navigating political circles in Delhi when TDP National President Nara Chandrababu Naidu was arrested.
