# Indian aviation regulatory reform proposals

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indian-aviation-regulatory-reform-proposals
> Updated: 2026-08-09T11:29:22.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) is advocating for significant structural reforms to India's aviation regulatory framework. Initially, the FIP proposed replacing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with an autonomous, statutory Civil Aviation Authority. This proposal seeks to address administrative bottlenecks and financial dependencies caused by the DGCA's current status as an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Following this, Meenu Wadia, founding president of the FIP, expanded the call for reform by emphasizing the need for an independent safety board. Wadia argued that the DGCA lacks sufficient technical expertise due to a historical reliance on bureaucrats rather than aviation professionals. She suggested that integrating pilots and experts into the regulatory body is essential to improving safety standards and addressing deficiencies in supervision.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-09: Meenu Wadia calls for DGCA reforms and independent safety board

Former Air India pilot Meenu Wadia is calling for the creation of an independent safety board and structural reforms at the DGCA to replace bureaucratic control with technical aviation expertise.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meenu-wadia-calls-for-dgca-reforms-and-independent-safety-board

### 2026-08-08: Federation of Indian Pilots urges creation of autonomous aviation regulator

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged PM Modi to replace the DGCA with an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority to support India's rapidly growing aviation market.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/federation-of-indian-pilots-urges-creation-of-autonomous-aviation-regulator

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Cite as: Indian aviation regulatory reform proposals. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indian-aviation-regulatory-reform-proposals