India is taking another step towards bringing electric air taxis to its cities, with Bengaluru-based aerospace startup Sarla Aviation receiving approval for its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft programme. The company is now among the Indian players progressing through the regulatory process for electric flying taxis.
The development comes as Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said India is targeting the launch of electric air taxi services by 2028, with testing expected to gather pace ahead of commercial operations.
Sarla Aviation is developing its Shunya aircraft for urban air mobility. The company has been working on electric aircraft technology designed to provide faster point-to-point transportation in congested cities. Its plans include potential airport connectivity and other short-distance urban routes.
The startup has already progressed from concept development to aircraft testing. Its half-scale Sylla demonstrator has been used to validate key technologies before the company moves towards its larger passenger aircraft. Recent reporting indicates Sarla is targeting commercial service entry around 2028–29.
The broader Indian eVTOL ecosystem is also expanding, with multiple companies working on electric aircraft for passenger transport, cargo and emergency applications. The government’s push to develop an appropriate regulatory framework is expected to be crucial for the sector’s growth.
For India, electric air taxis could eventually offer a new layer of urban transportation, reducing travel times on congested routes and providing an alternative to conventional road-based mobility. However, aircraft certification, safety standards, charging infrastructure, vertiports and operating regulations will all need to evolve before commercial services can scale.
With a 2028 target now being discussed at the government level, India’s electric air taxi sector is moving from futuristic concept towards a potential new chapter in urban aviation.
