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Mains level: Read the attached story

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified the draft Aircraft Security Rules, 2022 which enable the aviation security regulator, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to impose penalties upto ₹1 crore on airports and airlines for violation of security measures.

Why such move?

India’s civil Aviation Sector is facing a unique crisis a crisis of credibility and safety.
Some of the issues are-

The windshield of a go air flight cracks mid-air, two go air flights suffer engine snags, a flight could not take off because of a dog on the runway.
A bird was found in the cockpit of an Air India Express cruising at 37 000 feet.
One flight suffered an engine snag another noticed smoke in the cabin.
Luggage is not being loaded or is going missing.

Draft Aircraft Security Rules, 2022

The rules will supersede Aircraft Security Rules, 2011 and were necessary after Parliament passed Aircraft Amendment Act, 2020 in September 2020.
It gives statutory powers to BCAS, along with the Director General of Civil Aviation and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
These allow them to impose penalties which could only be imposed by courts earlier.
The amendment were necessary after the UN aviation watchdog, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), raised questions about the three regulators functioning without statutory powers.

Key features

Hefty fines: Once the draft Rules are finalised, the BCAS can impose a fine of ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore (depending on the size of the company) on airports and airlines if they fail to prepare and implement a security programme.
Security clearance: They can commence operations only after seeking a security clearance.
Regulating passenger behaviour: Individuals will also face penalties ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹25 lakh depending on the nature of offence.
Data security: In order to deal with cyber security threats, the rules also require each entity to protect its information and communication technology systems against unauthorised use and prohibit disclosure.
Unburdening the CISF: The draft rules now authorise airports to engage private security agents instead of CISF personnel at “non-core areas” and assign security duties as per the recommendation of the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016.