Aviation regulator flags slow hiring via UPSC, seeks autonomy for recruitment

Documents accessed by HT show DGCA proposed sweeping reforms including the ability to hire directly from premier technical institutes like IITs and NITs

India’s aviation safety regulator is demanding greater autonomy from government recruitment processes, citing internal projections that show only 294 new appointments are possible in the next six months due to bureaucratic delays, at a time when the sector faces mounting safety concerns.

The demand comes as India’s aviation sector handles 376 million passengers annually while operating with critical regulatory gaps. As of July 1, 2025, the DGCA had 553 posts filled, leaving 48% of technical positions vacant, with projections showing 216 positions will remain unfilled even after the expected recruitment. (File)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has told the government that even after these additions, it will operate with only 847 officials against 1,063 sanctioned posts, using this projection as evidence that traditional recruitment methods