Tata Sons Appoints Former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola as Air India Advisor

• Tata Sons has appointed former civil aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola as an advisor for its aviation business to stabilize Air India.
• Kharola, a 1985-batch IAS officer, is expected to strengthen Air India's engagement with the government amid increased regulatory scrutiny and leadership uncertainty.
• He previously served as civil aviation secretary from 2019-2021, overseeing Air India's privatization, and also held the position of Air India chairman.
• His appointment follows heightened oversight of Air India's operations, including 84 show-cause notices from DGCA in two years and a recent fine for operating an aircraft without a valid airworthiness permit.
• Kharola was reportedly handpicked by Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and is involved in sensitive government interactions and safety reviews.