Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Pilots' Body Writes To PM Modi Seeking Autonomous Aviation Regulator
The pilots — the people who fly airplanes in India — think the group that makes India's flying rules, called the DGCA, should be replaced.
They sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of India, asking for this change.
The pilots want a new, independent group to be in charge of aviation rules instead.
Being independent means the new group could make its own decisions about money, daily work, and technical matters.
This is not the first time the idea has come up.
In 2013 and 2014, the idea of a new aviation regulator gained lots of support.
But the law needed to make the change was never passed.
So everything stayed the same, and India still uses the DGCA for its aviation rules.
The pilots' letter is dated August 6.
With the letter, the pilots are trying again to make the change happen.
A pilots' body has written to Prime Minister Modi calling for an autonomous civil aviation authority to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The letter, dated August 6, says the objective is to replace the DGCA with an autonomous statutory regulator.
The proposed regulator would have greater financial, administrative, and technical independence.
The proposal gained significant momentum in 2013-2014, but the legislation ultimately lapsed.
India continues to be regulated by the DGCA under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Who
- A pilots' body (not named in the article) that wrote to PM Modi.
- What
- A call to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with an autonomous statutory civil aviation regulator with greater financial, administrative, and technical independence.
- When
- The letter is dated August 6; the similar reform proposal gained momentum in 2013-2014.
- Where
- India, where the DGCA regulates civil aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Why
- To give civil aviation regulation greater financial, administrative, and technical independence.
- Addressee
- Prime Minister Modi
- Sender
- Pilots' body (not named in the article)
- Request
- Replace the DGCA with an autonomous statutory regulator
- Letter date
- August 6
- Proposed independence
- Financial, administrative, and technical
- Reform history
- Gained momentum in 2013-2014; legislation lapsed
- Current regulator
- DGCA under the Ministry of Civil Aviation