DGCA to Fill 190 Vacant Posts by October, Says Civil Aviation Minister

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Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu announced in Parliament that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will fill 190 of its 410 current vacancies by October this year. The move aims to address long-standing staffing shortages within India’s aviation regulator and enhance safety oversight across the sector.

As of now, the DGCA has 1,644 sanctioned posts, but over 50% remain unfilled. Responding to concerns in the Rajya Sabha, the minister acknowledged the scale of the vacancy issue and emphasized the government’s commitment to improve staffing levels. “We are in the process of achieving nearly 90% staffing by filling 190 vacancies this year,” Naidu stated.

The DGCA filled 103 posts last year, the highest number of recruitment in its history. The minister explained that many of the current vacancies have been created recently to support the growing demands of India’s aviation industry, which has seen a surge in passenger traffic, airline operations, and fleet expansions.

Most of the unfilled posts are technical in nature and include critical positions such as flight operations inspectors, safety auditors, and airworthiness officers. Recruitment for these roles is often delayed due to the highly specialized qualifications required and the limited pool of eligible professionals.

Naidu assured Parliament that the government is expediting recruitment processes and also considering short-term contractual hiring to meet immediate regulatory needs. “We understand the urgency and are taking all steps to ensure DGCA functions at full capacity,” he added.

The minister also addressed broader concerns about regulatory effectiveness, especially in light of recent incidents that have highlighted the importance of aviation safety and oversight. He clarified that while some functions are being managed through temporary staffing measures, the goal remains to strengthen the DGCA permanently.

The ministry’s action comes amid growing scrutiny over aviation safety and regulatory readiness. Experts have long warned that understaffing in key departments could impact DGCA’s ability to conduct timely inspections, safety audits, and enforcement actions.

With the ongoing recruitment drive, the ministry aims to ensure that the DGCA keeps pace with the dynamic growth of India’s aviation sector while maintaining high standards of safety and operational efficiency.