The government clarified on Monday that GPS spoofing incidents around Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, India’s busiest airport, did not affect flight operations, despite media reports claiming hundreds of delays last month.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, explained that the incidents occurred during approaches using GPS-based landing procedures on Runway 10, forcing pilots to rely on contingency protocols. He noted that several flights approaching IGIA reported GPS spoofing.
“No flights were disrupted as other runways with traditional navigation systems continued to operate normally,” Naidu added while responding to a question by MP S Niranjan Reddy.
Reports had suggested nearly 800 flights were delayed at Delhi airport on November 6, but the government emphasized that core operations remained unaffected.
On the issue of GPS spoofing at IGI Airport, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu replied in the House.
He said “Some flights reported GPS spoofing in the vicinity of IGIA, New Delhi while using GPS based landing procedures, while approaching on RWY 10.…
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2025
What is GPS Spoofing?
GPS or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) spoofing occurs when false signals are transmitted to manipulate a navigation system, causing misleading position or timing information for users.
Spoofing Not Limited to Delhi
The Minister revealed that since the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) made reporting such incidents mandatory in late 2023, other major airports have also reported interference. These include Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
Regular reports of GNSS interference, such as spoofing and jamming, suggest a nationwide cybersecurity concern for India’s aviation sector.
DGCA Issues New SOP; AAI Involves Wireless Monitoring Agency
To tackle these threats, the DGCA has issued multiple directives:
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An advisory circular on handling GNSS interference released in November 2023.
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A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued on November 10 requires real-time reporting of GPS spoofing and jamming around IGIA.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought assistance from the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to trace interference sources. A high-level meeting directed WMO to deploy additional resources and investigate suspected transmission zones identified by DGCA and AAI.
Ground-Based Navigation Remains a Backup
To maintain uninterrupted operations, India continues to operate a Minimum Operating Network (MON) of ground-based navigation and surveillance systems. This redundancy ensures a failsafe mechanism if satellite-based systems fail, a model also widely used internationally.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Amid Global Threats
Minister Naidu warned that the aviation sector faces increasing risks from ransomware and malware attacks worldwide. To counter these, AAI is upgrading its cybersecurity infrastructure following directives from the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and CERT-In.
“Cybersecurity measures are being continuously updated as threats evolve,” Naidu added, highlighting the government’s proactive approach to aviation safety in the face of new technological challenges.
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