Federation of Indian Pilots urges creation of autonomous aviation regulator

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for the replacement of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with an autonomous, statutory Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

FIP President Capt CS Randhawa argued that India's status as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market requires a more robust regulatory framework. The FIP highlighted that the current DGCA operates as an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which creates administrative bottlenecks and financial constraints. Unlike autonomous regulators in countries such as the UK, Singapore, and several South Asian neighbors, the DGCA's revenue is directed into the Consolidated Fund of India, making it dependent on annual budget allocations.

The proposal emphasizes that the rapid growth of the sector—with a commercial fleet exceeding 850 aircraft and annual passenger traffic surpassing 239 million—alongside the rise of drones and advanced air mobility, necessitates a self-sustaining body. The FIP suggests a new authority with greater financial, administrative, and technical autonomy to better attract specialized talent and match international best practices.