Dr. Nilay Ranjan’s professional journey spans over two decades across government, non-profit, and corporate sectors, powered by a dedication to sustainability and social responsibility.

Since joining Air India Limited as Head of Sustainability and CSR in September 2024, he has been instrumental in driving the airline’s transition towards greener operations.

Under his leadership, Air India signed a game-changing MoU with Indian Oil Corporation in 2025 for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply, part of India’s ambition to achieve 5% SAF blending by 2030 and align with global net zero objectives.

“Sustainability is not a separate agenda; it’s core to future business viability,” Dr. Ranjan asserts. This piece traces his career journey, his impact at Air India, and the broader implications for India’s clean aviation future.

From Rural Development to Corporate Leadership

Before emerging as a CSR leader, Dr. Nilay Ranjan cut his teeth as a Rural Development and Convergence Expert with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working on government flagship rural employment initiatives such as MGNREGS.

His foundational work in rural convergence and policy formulation laid the groundwork for his systemic understanding of sustainable development challenges in India. Dr. Ranjan himself notes, “My time in rural development ingrained the importance of inclusive growth and multi-stakeholder collaboration.”

With a PhD in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University and executive education from the Indian School of Business, he transitioned into corporate CSR at Idea Cellular Ltd (later Vodafone Idea), where he oversaw CSR strategies for education, health, livelihood, and environmental initiatives.

His role evolved into managing ESG frameworks and a diversified grant portfolio covering over 24 NGOs before shifting to lead Education programs at Reliance Foundation. At every stage, his approach was anchored in aligning corporate goals with social impact, reflecting a balance of empathy and pragmatism.

Leading Air India’s Green Transformation

Dr. Ranjan took the helm of Air India’s Sustainability and CSR division at a time when the aviation sector faced increasing pressure for climate accountability.

His leadership crystallised in the August 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation, pioneering the supply of ISCC-certified Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived primarily from waste cooking oil and bio-waste at Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery.

This SAF partnership underpins India’s policy to blend 5% of sustainable fuel by 2030, positioning Air India at the forefront of India’s decarbonisation efforts and aligning with International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA program to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Complementing the fuel transition are operational efficiencies through digital tech adoption Air India has implemented SITA OptiFlight and eWAS systems, which optimise flight routing to cut fuel burn and reduce approximately 35,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Additionally, the airline is renewing its fleet with the acquisition of 570 new aircraft, all focused on enhancing fuel efficiency and lowering environmental impact.

Dr. Ranjan comments: “Sustainability in aviation demands an integrated approach fuel, technology, fleet, and people.” His push emphasises systematic transformation rather than isolated measures.

Multi-Stakeholder Approach for Holistic Impact

Dr. Nilay Ranjan’s unique strength lies in bridging sectors and perspectives. Air India’s CSR and sustainability thrust under his guidance includes not only fuel and tech innovation but also advocacy and community development.

Employee engagement programs foster sustainability awareness inside the organisation, while procurement policies prioritise eco-friendly vendors. Beyond the airline, Dr. Ranjan spearheads CSR projects in education, skill empowerment, and environmental stewardship inspired by his tenure at Reliance Foundation.

His philosophy is deeply systemic: “True sustainability thrives when we create shared value across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, rather than fragmented efforts.”

Air India’s inclusive sustainability narrative passionately involves government regulators, corporate partners, civil society, and local communities building a coalition for transformative, long-term impact.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Dr. Nilay Ranjan’s journey exemplifies the power of expertise, commitment, and ethical governance in corporate sustainability. Air India’s progressive steps under his leadership underscore how Indian companies can responsibly innovate while contributing to national and global environmental goals.

This story is a clarion call for more organisations to embed sustainability as a business imperative, not just a compliance mechanism.

The Logical Indian believes that such leadership inspires vital conversations around the intersection of economic growth and environmental preservation. How can Indian corporations accelerate adopting comprehensive sustainability frameworks?

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