India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a strict ban on charging power banks during flights or connecting them to in-seat power systems, citing the grave danger of lithium-ion battery fires.
Power banks and spare batteries must remain exclusively in hand luggage never in overhead bins for easy monitoring, with airlines mandated to issue inflight announcements, report all incidents to the DGCA, and display warnings at airports.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted the move’s roots in global safety consultations, following overheating incidents worldwide; enforcement began in January 2026, aligning India with carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
Detailed Safety Measures and Official Guidance
The DGCA’s comprehensive Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular (No. 01/2025), released in late November 2025, outlines precise protocols to mitigate risks from lithium battery-powered devices carried by passengers and crew.
Passengers must “immediately inform cabin crew if any device emits heat, smoke, or an unusual odour,” enabling swift isolation and response, while airlines equip flights with specialised fire suppression tools like containment bags and train staff in emergency drills.
Airports now feature prominent signage, video displays at check-in counters, security checkpoints, and boarding gates, urging travellers to fully charge devices before flights and use protective cases.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu underscored the directive’s evidence-based foundation during a recent briefing: “DGCA issues guidelines… with thorough research and global consultations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and other regulators… to maintain the highest safety standards for passengers.”
This builds on earlier advisories, ensuring compliance across all domestic and international flights departing from India. Airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have swiftly integrated verbal reminders during boarding, cabin checks, and inflight announcements, with some introducing pre-flight checklists at gates to verify power bank placement. These steps not only clarify rules but humanise the process, empowering passengers as active safety partners rather than passive rule-followers.
Background: Rising Global and Local Incidents Prompt Action
The ban stems from a surge in lithium battery mishaps, where thermal runaway a rapid, self-sustaining chemical reaction can ignite fierce, hard-to-extinguish fires in confined aircraft spaces. Globally, incidents spiked last year: Emirates reported a passenger device sparking in a cabin mid-flight over the Middle East, forcing an emergency diversion, while Singapore Airlines managed a similar overheating event that filled the cabin with acrid smoke.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration logged over 300 battery-related disruptions in 2025 alone, including e-bike and vape fires that endangered evacuations.
India’s aviation boom over 150 million passengers in 2025 amplified these vulnerabilities, with unchecked power banks in overhead bins emerging as a key concern, as they are inaccessible during flight for routine inspections.
Experts like aviation safety consultant Captain Sanjay Bahadur noted in recent analyses that “the one hand bag rule is vital amid power bank fire fears,” allowing cabin crew to spot anomalies quickly during walks through the aisles.
Preceding incidents in India, though not publicly detailed due to reporting lags, involved minor smoke emissions from devices in luggage, prompting the DGCA’s proactive circular before a major calamity.
This aligns with ICAO standards, which classify lithium batteries above 100Wh as restricted, and mirrors restrictions in the EU and Australia, where similar rules curbed inflight charging post-2024 audits. The advisory also addresses crew-carried items, closing loopholes in an era of ubiquitous gadgets like laptops, earbuds, and medical devices.
Implementation Challenges and Passenger Impact
For the average Indian flyer often juggling work calls, family videos, and long-haul connections these rules demand adaptation but promise peace of mind. Frequent travellers to metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, where IndiGo dominates 60% of domestic routes, now face gate-side education campaigns, with staff scanning for compliant bags.
Larger power banks (above 160Wh) remain fully prohibited, while those between 100-160Wh require airline approval, nudging users towards slimmer, safer alternatives. Feedback from early enforcement shows confusion among first-time flyers from Tier-2 cities like Fyzabad, where awareness lags, but airlines report high compliance after clarifications.
Long-term, this could reshape habits: passengers might opt for solar chargers or flight-provided USB ports (sans power banks), reducing overall lithium load onboard.
Economically, it spares airlines the multimillion-rupee costs of diversions estimated at Rs 2-5 crore per incident while boosting trust in Indian aviation’s safety record, already among Asia’s best with zero fatal battery fires in scheduled carriers over the past decade.
Yet, challenges persist: enforcing the “hand luggage only” rule during turbulent flights or full cabins tests crew vigilance, and smuggling risks remain, as seen in past liquid bans.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The DGCA’s decisive action embodies responsible stewardship, placing collective safety above fleeting conveniences in the shared sanctuary of the skies, where one overlooked spark could shatter lives and harmony.
By mandating empathy through immediate reporting, crew training, and passenger education it weaves kindness into the fabric of air travel, reminding us that true progress lies in vigilance for the vulnerable, from nervous first-timers to weary crew.
This isn’t mere regulation; it’s a call for coexistence, urging airlines, regulators, and flyers to dialogue openly, fostering a culture where safety is everyone’s duty. We celebrate this as a beacon for positive change, proving proactive governance can prevent harm while respecting India’s soaring aviation dreams.
