Indian Civil Aviation: DGCA, AAI, and NCAP 2016

India’s civil aviation regulator worked for 93 years before Parliament gave it a law. That is a long time to run on administrative orders alone. This lesson covers the bodies and the policy that run Indian civil aviation today. It also covers the 2016 policy that changed the rules for airlines, and the latest news on pilot training.

1Chapter 1: Four Bodies, Four Jobs

Must Know

DGCA versus AAI

• The DGCA regulates air safety, airworthiness and air transport services.
• The AAI builds, maintains and runs airports.
• Exams love to swap these two. Keep them apart.
• DGCA began in 1927. It sits in New Delhi, opposite Safdarjung Airport.
• The AAI was formed on 1 April 1995.
• It merged the International Airports Authority and the National Airports Authority.

Two more bodies

• BCAS sets airport and flight security standards.
• AERA regulates airport tariffs and service standards.
• All four bodies sit under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Who investigates accidents?

• A separate body investigates an accident or a Serious Incident.
• It is the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
• It stands apart from the DGCA, so the regulator does not investigate itself.
• Read more: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

2Chapter 2: NCAP 2016

Must Know

India’s first integrated aviation policy

• The Cabinet approved the National Civil Aviation Policy on 15 June 2016.
• It was India’s first integrated aviation policy since independence.
• It covers regional connectivity, safety, bilateral traffic rights, fiscal support and “Make in India” aircraft manufacturing.
• All of it is in one document.

From “5/20” to “0/20”

• The old “5/20” rule asked airlines for five years of domestic flying and 20 aircraft before going abroad.
• NCAP 2016 made it “0/20”.
• No waiting period is needed any more.
• An airline needs only 20 aircraft, or 20% of capacity, on domestic routes.

UDAN

• NCAP 2016 also conceptualised UDAN.
• UDAN is India’s regional connectivity scheme. It was launched that same October.
• It links smaller Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Read more: UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme.

3Chapter 3: Greenfield or Brownfield?

Good to Know

Two kinds of airports

• A Greenfield airport is built from scratch on new land.
• A Brownfield airport is upgraded from existing infrastructure.
• Donyi Polo Airport (Itanagar) and Kushinagar International Airport are Greenfield.
• Vijayawada International Airport was upgraded from an existing domestic airport, so it is Brownfield.
• Read more: Andhra Pradesh.

4Chapter 4: 93 Years on Orders Alone

Great to Know

A late law

• The DGCA became a statutory body in 2020, through the Aircraft (Amendment) Act.
• That was 93 years after it began.
• It shows how long an Indian institution can run on administrative authority alone.

Aviation as a growth lever

• NCAP 2016 bundled connectivity, investment rules and manufacturing incentives together.
• India treats aviation as an economic growth lever, not only a safety matter.
• Read more: Indigenous Technology Development and Make in India.

A model copied for ports

• BCAS’s airport security model is now being copied for ports.
• The Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) is meant to play the same role for ports.
• Read more: Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), Land Border Management in India, Indian Coast Guard and App-Based Services in India.

5Chapter 5: In the News, 2026

Current Affairs

11 new flying training organisations

• On 5 August 2026, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu awarded Letters of Intent for 11 new Flying Training Organisations (FTOs).
• They will operate across seven AAI airports.
• They should add 750 pilot-training seats a year.
• India now has 41 FTOs across 63 flying bases. Six were added in two years.
• (Source: Swarajya.)
• The training-aircraft fleet grew from 324 to 385. Annual flying hours rose 25%.
• Commercial Pilot Licences rose from 1,347 in 2024 to 1,652 in 2025. That is the highest in a decade.
• (Source: ANI.)
• The event also launched the FTO IFR Slot Booking App for instrument flight-training at AAI airports.
• (Source: DD India.)

Electric seaplanes

• On 5 August 2026, Pawan Hans signed an MoU with Norway’s Noemi Aerospace (Elfly AS).
• The aim is to explore electric seaplane technology for regional links.
• The MoU is exploratory. It carries no money, buying or investment promise.
• (Source: DD India.)

Airport passenger flow

• On 8 July 2026, Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister Naidu reviewed airport facilities, security and immigration.
• They asked that all 62 airports be taken up in order of passenger traffic.
• Shah called for one framework linking entry lanes, check-in, security and immigration.
• A phased rollout of Automatic Tray Retrieval Systems (ATRS) will cut manpower costs.
• The target is all 62 airports within two years.
• (Source: PIB.)

First private heliport approach

• On 1 July 2026, India approved its first private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure.
• It is for helicopters at Undavalli Heliport, Andhra Pradesh.
• AAI developed it. DGCA approved it under ICAO standards.
• PinS uses satellite navigation for precise approaches without conventional landing aids.
• It helps emergency medical services, disaster relief and Char Dham pilgrim flights, even in bad weather.
• (Source: PIB.)

6Previous Year Questions

Exam angle: real questions on this topic.

Quick Q&A

• DGCA began? 1927.
• AAI formed? 1 April 1995.
• NCAP approved? 15 June 2016.
• DGCA statutory? 2020.
• New FTOs 2026? 11.