What does 'VT' stand for in the registration number of an Indian aircraft? It is 'Viceroy Territory', a legacy of the British Raj.
The issue was raised in Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour by BJP member Tarun Vijay who sought a change in the aircraft registration code, which was retained by India after Independence.
The 'VT' code has a reflection of colonial rule, he said, adding "Hindustan cannot be a territory of the Viceroy. ...Why India is continuing with VT code? ...VT should be changed right away".
He also demanded that an earlier decision of the government not to change the code should be amended.
Vijay said 'VT' stands for 'Viceroy Territory' and it should be changed with an Indian code. While names of roads and places have changed in India, but it is unfortunate that Indian airplanes still carry the 'VT' code, he said.
Even countries like Fiji, Nepal and Pakistan have changed their codes, while India has still not done so, he added.
As per global rules set by UN body International Civil Aviation Organisation, each aircraft has to be registered in a country where it is allotted a registration number which has two letters as the country code, followed by three letters of owners or the carriers choice, like VT-123 in case of an Indian aircraft.
India was assigned the letters VT during the British Raj when it was still called the Viceroy's territory.
