Context India is uniquely positioned to benefit from advanced air mobility (AAM) due to its rapid growth, technological advances and increasing need for innovative mobility solutions. As the world’s third-largest domestic passenger market, India has already made remarkable strides in transforming air travel through initiatives such as the Government of India’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme,3 which has operationalized 601 routes and 71 airports, bringing the benefits of aviation to 14.4 million citizens. The AAM sector is building on this momentum by introducing the next frontier in mobility, using cutting-edge technology to enhance urban and rural connectivity. AAM offers a significant opportunity to decongest urban centres by introducing new, efficient air transport options that can bypass the challenges of road traffic and infrastructure limitations. It also provides rural India with faster access to jobs, finance, healthcare and markets, ensuring that the benefits of economic development reach all corners of the country. In creating seamless, rapid connections between regions, this delivers social benefits and drives economic growth.India’s leadership in automation and smart infrastructure further strengthens its case for embracing AAM. By integrating aerial mobility with existing transportation networks, India can create a forward-looking, sustainable and efficient transport system that serves both its bustling cities and its vast rural areas. The development of vertiports and the management of airspace will allow for seamless integration with urban transport systems, enhancing convenience and reducing travel times for millions of people. India has already demonstrated its capacity to lead in this space through successful initiatives such as Medicine from the Sky, which used drones to deliver essential healthcare to remote areas in Telangana and the Himalayan region. This project, endorsed by key decision-makers in government, has been recognized globally, showcasing India’s ability to harness advanced technology for social good. By embracing AAM, India has the opportunity to lead the world in sustainable, innovative aviation solutions, improving mobility, reducing congestion and driving economic growth, all while enhancing its citizens’ quality of life. AVIATE4 AAM India aims to develop a strategic roadmap and create sandboxes for the responsible adoption of AAM throughout regional and urban India. The initiative seeks to ensure that autonomous aviation technology enhances the safety of the entire aviation ecosystem, is introduced equitably, minimizes externalities such as noise and privacy concerns, and maximizes benefits for both current and future aviation workforces. To achieve these objectives, AVIATE India will bring together Indian and global stakeholders to position India as a leader in the AAM sector, develop a comprehensive roadmap and concept of operations for scaling AAM, support pilot project activities in collaboration with India’s Aviation Ministry and regulatory bodies, and document key lessons learned to inform future global deployments.India had a strong presence at the Paris Air Show 2023, and AVIATE AAM was announced at this point. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace: the number of operations by unmanned aircraft systems is soon expected to surpass the number of manned operations, with at least 20 companies including legacy aviation companies pursuing certification of autonomous passenger aircraft. Despite this, there remains a mismatch between the capability of technology and public perceptions of autonomy. With emerging technologies at the core of our agenda, AVIATE India is focusing on topics around advanced air mobility and drones through a host of programmes, initiatives and global coalitions.Objectives Advanced air mobility Drones for social impact Through our global coalitions and peer communities, we are working to revolutionize transportation by enabling efficient, sustainable and accessible urban and rural mobility solutions.As a subset of AAM, this initiative focuses on powering up legacy sectors such as healthcare and agriculture by unlocking new possibilities for data collection, monitoring and delivery. Medicine from the Sky has been a flagship initiative. 3. Government of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. (n.d.). Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik: Journey from Hawai Chapal to Hawai Jahaj. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/migration/Udaan_Eng.pdf. 4. AVIATE stands for Aviation – Innovation, Autonomy and Technology for Everyone. Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India – an Impact Journey 27

C4IR India An Impact Journey 2025