Civil Aviation Ministry Struggles to Fill DGCA Vacancies Despite Creation of 1,630 New Posts

New Delhi: The Union government has failed to fill nearly half of the vacancies in the civil aviation sector, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu informed the Rajya Sabha. Responding to questions on the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector, the minister said that 441 new posts have been created in the last three years as part of the DGCA restructuring process.

A total of 1,630 posts were newly sanctioned for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), of which 836 have been filled, he added.

Over the past four months, 22 new officers have joined service, promotions for 42 officers have been completed, and recruitment has been carried out for 62 technical officers, 5 Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs), and 8 stenographers. Examinations for 121 operations officers have also been conducted.

The minister pointed out that several factors have hindered full recruitment — including lack of adequate response to job notifications, selected candidates refusing to join, and insufficient experience among existing staff to qualify for promotions. To address such gaps, the government has been appointing personnel on short-term contractual basis, he said.

Regarding Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), the minister clarified that the Airports Authority of India (AAI), in accordance with DGCA guidelines, handles ATCO recruitment — a category that also faces substantial vacancies. However, he asserted that the shortage has not compromised aviation safety, as existing controllers are being deployed efficiently.

In 2025, the DGCA approved two Flying Training Organizations, adding 61 more aircraft for pilot training, bringing the total to 379 training aircraft across the country. Over the past three years, the number of training aircraft has increased by 73%, and the number of Chief Flying Instructors (CFIs), Deputy CFIs, and examiners has seen a 23.8% rise, according to the report presented in the Rajya Sabha.