'I would have been an entrepreneur if not for politics': Aviation Minister Naidu

If he weren’t in politics, he would likely have started a business or become an entrepreneur, said Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation.

"I come from Srikakulam, which is the northern part of Andhra Pradesh, and I've, for some reason, always been connected to my homeland," Naidu said during a fireside chat with YourStory Founder and CEO Shradha Sharma. "I've studied in Delhi. I went to the US for my bachelor's and master's, but for some reason, it has always been there in my mind that I have to do something for Srikakulam, but as a startup or some kind of business, I wanted to aspire to become an entrepreneur."

Naidu was speaking at the 16th edition of YourStory’s flagship event TechSparks 2025.

The three-time Member of Parliament studied at Long Island University, New York, and Purdue University, Indiana. His father, Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu, passed away in 2012 following a car accident in Srikakulam.

"I just knew that I had to start something, because looking at my father being in politics, day in and day out, and the kind of things he used to do, the good things that he used to do, and the schedule that he used to follow all throughout for some reason, I felt that I was not built for politics," he said. "So the only thing I was aspiring to become was an entrepreneur. So I would have been an entrepreneur. I would have been hell bent on becoming one if not for this."

Under Naidu’s leadership, the central government has undertaken several initiatives to boost the aviation sector.

India’s drone industry received a major boost following the government’s recent decision to cut GST rates. Previously, drones with integrated cameras attracted an 18% GST, while those classified for personal use were taxed at 28%. Under the new reforms, a uniform 5% GST now applies to all drones — regardless of whether the camera is integrated or separate, or whether they are used for commercial or personal purposes.

On Thursday, Naidu announced that the government will soon unveil a national policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — an alternative aviation fuel derived from non-fossil sources. SAF can be produced using biomass and agricultural residues, which gives India a unique advantage. By leveraging its vast agricultural base, the country could significantly reduce its dependence on imported crude oil and move closer to its net-zero emission goals.