India finalizes SAF policy ahead of 2027 CORSIA carbon rules for aviation

India is putting the final touches on a sustainable aviation fuel policy as the 2027 deadline for mandatory CORSIA compliance approaches. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu reviewed SAF production, certification, and supply chain progress with stakeholders from multiple ministries, airlines, and airport operators. The goal is to have a cost-effective framework that minimizes burden on passengers and airlines while meeting ICAO's carbon reduction requirements. The draft policy is in its final stages with inter-ministerial consultations ongoing. Officials are studying various SAF pathways to identify the most cost-effective production and delivery mechanisms. All stakeholders have been directed to expedite action points so India is fully prepared before the mandatory phase of CORSIA begins on January 1, 2027. This matters because international aviation faces growing pressure to decarbonize, and India as a major aviation market needs domestic production capacity and clear rules. The policy will shape how airlines source fuel, how refineries invest, and how carbon offsets are accounted for under CORSIA.