India at present has one of the most noteworthy development rates in common avionics and positions among the nations with the most elevated expected development levels in both common aeronautics travelers and cargo, considering the financial development possibilities. Air traffic in India is relied upon to rise 3.3 times throughout the following 20 years. Despite these hopeful figures, National carrier Air India worked by the Government of India keeps on being a misfortune happening substance.

Things disintegrated further a couple of months prior when unpaid oil organizations halted the carrier's stock of fuel at six air terminals. Air India was not able to survive this market due to various factors like an increase in the price of oil, an increase in the operating cost, etc . another most important reason why Air India is showing a downfall is because of the lack of technology and resources that Air India currently has. under such a case, the public authority has the alternative to privatizing the plane by looking for the correct bidder who is eager to acknowledge a part of the obligations.

Journey Of Air India

Air India was the first airline founded by JRD Tata in 1932. In the initial years, it was, called Tata Airlines. At starting, the services opened between Karachi, Ahmadabad, Madras, Bombay, and Bellary. It became a public listed company by the name Air India in the year 1946. In 1948 the government bought a stake of 40 percent in Air India. In 1953 the government passed the Air Corporation act. This act aimed to nationalize all the existing Airlines including Air India. But in 1993 with the recommendation of the standing committee headed by Pramod Mahajan. this Act was repelled.

From 1994 private players also entered the Indian aviation market. Giving a tough fight to domestic Indian companies. In 2007 decision was, taken to merge Air India with Indian airlines to form NACIL (national aviation company of India limited). Many big players opposed this merger as they considered that the ethos, culture, structure of both this Airline were different.

The Downfall Of Air India

Until the 1990s, the carrier appreciated an enormous piece of the pie, after which the public authority opened the market to private players due to which Air India started to turn into a misfortune making substance. Air India is serving more than 370 routes, out of which 9 are productive. The increasing expense of fuel has added to higher working costs that have disintegrated the revenues.

Air India appeared about aircraft in the private area that is more viable about ticket estimating, dynamic, choosing the best courses, offering esteem added administrations, and so forth. The inopportune consolidation in 2007 with Indian Airlines is the most compelling motivation for its defeat as it prompted an incredible loss of Rs. 7000 crores recorded in 2010-11. Another significant purpose behind the misfortunes is the number of staff/laborers is high contrasted with industry principles. Air India needs 12000 workers though it has 32000 representatives. Every one of these variables added to the ruin of Air India.

Central Government Plan For Revival

Privatization

Privatization refers to the transfer of ownership from the public sector to the private sector. In June 2017 government finally approved the privatization of Air India. Finally, in March 2018, the government sold a 76 percent stake in Air India. Along with Air India express which was its subsidiary was also sold off . . According to EOI, the government laid the condition that the new owner has to accept the debt of 33,392 cores. And the net worth of the bidder must be more than 5000 crores. But no buyers have shown interest in buying a debt-laden airline.

But at the beginning of 2020, the government came up with more attractive schemes to get the attention of bidders. The new scheme was giving 100 percent stake of Air India along with 50 percent stake in AISATS.

Impact Of Air India On Economy

Since the government has not come up with the proper path. Air India will continue to consume huge capital and a day would come when the government has to close it in the loss. According to a recent report by CAPA (center for Asia pacific aviation) since 2012, the airline received a subsidy of $ 4 billion. It was later predicted that if the government would have continued its holding then it would have resulted in a loss of $1.5 to $2 billion dollars in the next two budget years. it was necessary to privatize this airline. The government was investing a huge amount of taxpayers' money. Which would have resulted in more loss. And with the increase in the price of crude oil, the operating cost of the airline would have further increased the losses.

The Economic Impact Of Privatization

Positive Impact

There is a big possibility that Air India will get revived after getting privatized. since we are aware of this fact that, the government-owned aviation company is facing tough competition from the private players. The private company is more efficient in technology, resources, etc. the government does not have the required technology and resources to compete with them. So it was a bold and necessary step taken by the government to privatize this airline.

Negative Impact

We are aware of the fact that if Air India gets privatized then aviation would be the only sector where there would be no state ownership. This would create the monopoly of the private sector, this would further increase flight tickets. Once Air India gets privatized. and if this condition arises then the government would have no power to interfere in this matter.

Legal Impacts Of Privatization Of Air India

Article 14 to 18 of the Indian Constitution confers its entire people the right to equality. Article 14 covers the basic concepts of equality before the law as well as protection against unreasonable discrimination. Article 15 concerns the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of race, caste, religion, sex, place of birth. Article 16 guarantees equal opportunity in matters of public employment. Article 16 guarantees equal opportunity in matters of public employment. The idea of privatization has affected the and weaker section of the society due to reservation policy, subsidies, and other benefits being denied.

As we all know that state is a welfare state and the state must provide an equal level of opportunity to each living in the society. But with the recent trend of privatization, this concept is getting neglected. The concept of the welfare state is somehow getting overshadowed by privatization.

Conclusion
Reform is a process, not an event. it is something which has to be done and it is something which can't be ignored at any cost. Changes are obligatory in each fragment of society. Particularly in non-industrial nations of Asia. since nothing aside from change is lasting. Strategy making bodies should discuss changing the business climate and giving arrangement rules to them. One trusts that this time the disinvestment practice is thought, sought after, and is effective because the possibility of changing Air India into a hearty transporter is connected with it.

The most recent DGCA information additionally demonstrated that more travelers were carried by the obligation ridden plane in December 2019 versus 2018. It has carried 1.6 million travelers, 14% higher than in December 2018. Nonetheless, media reports have arisen that the public authority claimed transporter announced its least piece of the industry in November i.e., 12.01 % . The crude cost is going to win around $50-$60 per barrel in the medium to the long haul.

According to gauges by Goldman Sachs, and where over 60% of the transporter's income stream is in unfamiliar cash particularly after the critical improvement in working execution since 2015-16. affecting vital disinvestment of Air India at this stage will be improper.

Award Winning Article Is Written By: Mr.Kartik Mohan Srivastava

Authentication No: JU354319245828-26-0623