India’s aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is seeking greater autonomy from government recruitment processes, citing bureaucratic delays that have slowed hiring at a time when the sector faces mounting safety and operational challenges. With only 294 potential new hires over the next six months, the regulator is terribly understaffed, according to internal assessments.
Staffing Crisis: Numbers Paint a Grim Picture
As of July 1, 2025, the DGCA had 553 posts filled against a sanctioned strength of 1,063, leaving 48% of technical positions vacant. It is anticipated that 216 posts will go empty despite future hiring. Of the total sanctioned strength, 961 Group A technical officer posts are recruited through UPSC, while 102 Flight Operations Inspector posts are filled on contract.
The regulator highlighted the slow pace of conventional recruitment: only 3 officials were added in 2023, 72 in 2024, and 13 so far this year. A ministry official said:
“It takes more than one year to be recruited by the UPSC. The shortage leads to limited availability of eligible officials on deputation posts for the sector.”
With India handling 376 million passengers annually, each of the 553 officials is effectively responsible for monitoring 680,000 passengers, demonstrating the urgent need for additional manpower.
Proposed Autonomy Reforms
The DGCA has suggested extensive measures to remedy these personnel deficits, such as
- Direct hiring for a maximum of five years from prestigious technical universities like IITs and NITs.
- Administrative freedom to hire from the open market and create or transfer positions.
- Preserving a consultancy pool of former aviation officers.
- Officers receive specialized training both domestically and abroad.
- Flexibility in contract hiring and extra benefits to draw in qualified workers.
- More financial authority, including the ability to set consultant compensation.
According to sources, the regulator argues that current rules and limited financial incentives prevent it from hiring skilled personnel at a pace needed for effective oversight of airline operations, aircraft certification, and safety audits.
Government Response and Immediate Relief
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has acknowledged the challenge while highlighting ongoing efforts:
“We recruited for 103 posts, which was the highest number in the history of DGCA. This year we plan to recruit 190. By the end of October, we are going to recruit 190 posts for DGCA.”
Immediate relief is expected with 54 officials joining soon, including 43 Airworthiness Officers. Additionally, a proposal to recruit 190 people directly through UPSC has been accepted, with joining expected by October.
Also Read: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns to India After Historic Axiom-4 Mission
Why Autonomy Matters for Aviation Safety
The DGCA has presented these staffing projections to the parliamentary Standing Committee, emphasizing that recruitment delays hamper its ability to oversee India’s fastest-growing aviation market. According to officials, the regulator’s ability to guarantee airline compliance, carry out audits, and certify aircraft is still limited given the absence of autonomy in technical recruiting.
The proposal for greater operational and recruitment independence underscores the regulator’s argument that current bureaucratic processes are incompatible with the demands of a rapidly expanding aviation sector, where technical expertise is in high demand and private sector salaries are competitive.
