DGCA
Role, Functions, and Statutory Basis
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the principal regulatory body for civil aviation in India. It became a statutory body under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020, after operating for decades under executive authority. The DGCA operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and coordinates internationally with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
- Statutory basis: Aircraft Act, 1934 (as amended); DGCA became a statutory body under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020.
- Key functions: Air safety regulation, airworthiness certification, pilot and crew licensing, Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issuance, accident investigation, flight schedules oversight.
- India is a signatory to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944), which established ICAO — DGCA ensures India's compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
- The DGCA issues and revises seasonal (summer/winter) flight schedules twice a year, coordinating slot allocation among carriers.
- Distinct from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) — DGCA handles safety and operational regulation; CCI handles market competition.
● Tracked since March 01, 2026 · last seen March 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief