The Ministry of Civil Aviation, along with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and support from the European Union, has released India’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study. The report lays out a roadmap for India to build a strong SAF ecosystem and position itself as a global leader in green aviation fuels.

Speaking at the launch event in New Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu described SAF as “a practical and immediate solution to decarbonize the aviation sector, with the potential to reduce lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.”

He added that India’s vast resources, over 750 million metric tonnes of biomass and around 230 million metric tonnes of surplus agricultural residue provide the country with the capacity not only to meet its own demand but also to export SAF in the future. “We are ready to become self-sufficient in SAF production and will start with a 1% fuel blend by 2027, move to 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030, in line with the CORSIA mandate,” the Minister said.

Highlighting recent progress, the Minister noted that COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. has been appointed as the country’s first SAF certification body and Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery has already been certified as India’s first SAF producer.

He also pointed out the wider benefits of SAF adoption: “Producing SAF will not only reduce crude imports and cut emissions by 20-25 million tonnes annually, but also increase farmers’ incomes by creating a value chain for agricultural waste and biomass.”

The Minister said India’s efforts were in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of clean growth. “Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is on track to become the world’s largest domestic aviation market. With a collaborative approach, we are committed to making India a leader in green aviation,” he stressed.

Secretary of Civil Aviation Samir Kumar Sinha echoed the commitment, reminding that climate change is a global challenge that needs collective action. He underlined that India already operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient aircraft fleets in the world and that 88 airports have switched to 100% green energy, setting global benchmarks.

DGCA Chief Faiz Ahmed emphasized that India, as the world’s third-largest aviation market, is preparing for passenger traffic to double to 500 million by 2030. He said the SAF study would guide India in shaping a national policy framework for sustainable fuel adoption and ensure environmental responsibility remains central to aviation growth.

The study, prepared under ICAO’s ACT-SAF programme, examines domestic feedstock, production pathways, infrastructure readiness and policy support needed to scale SAF in India. It draws from international best practices but tailors them to India’s socio-economic and environmental needs.

The launch is being followed by a two-day workshop at Udaan Bhawan, New Delhi, with representatives from ICAO, EASA, DGCA, industry partners and several government departments.

With abundant raw material availability and strong policy push, India is now setting the stage to not just meet its own green aviation goals, but also become a global supplier of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the coming decade.