DGCA Carries Out 171 Regulatory Audits To Guarantee Air Security In Final 5 Years: Minister | Mobility Information
New Delhi: The Directorate Basic of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has carried out 171 regulatory audits from 2020 until June 2025 to make sure security in India’s civil aviation sector, the Parliament was knowledgeable on Monday.
A complete of two incidents of turbulence and 10 incidents of emergency touchdown as a result of technical snags have been reported since January 2024 other than which Air India’s Boeing plane VT-ANB on June 12, 2025, “declared MAYDAY and finally met with an accident”, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol stated in a written reply to a query within the Rajya Sabha.
The minister stated that pilot coaching in India is ruled by extant rules as specified underneath varied Civil Aviation Necessities (CAR) and operations circulars, that are consistent with the Worldwide Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and international greatest practices.
The Directorate Basic of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established Civil Aviation Laws to make sure the protected operation and upkeep of plane. These rules are constantly up to date and aligned with worldwide requirements, together with these of the ICAO and the European Union Aviation Security Company (EASA). The DGCA amends its rules every now and then in accordance with ICAO requirements, the minister acknowledged.
The minister additionally stated that India has ratified the Montreal Conference, 1999 by making amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 in 2009, which inter alia gives the liabilities of carriers for compensation in case of demise, delay, injury or loss to individuals, baggage or cargo for worldwide carriage. In the meantime, the DGCA has additionally ordered a brand new set of Complete Particular Audits to boost security following the jolt to the nation’s civil aviation sector within the wake of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
The audit framework will cowl all the vary of aviation entities, together with scheduled and non-scheduled airways, upkeep, restore, and overhaul organisations (MROs), flying coaching colleges, air navigation service suppliers, airport operators, and floor dealing with companies. The audit framework shall be along with the regulatory audits being carried out as per the annual surveillance programme. It’ll even have extra extreme penalties for non-compliance that embody grounding of airways.
The method will unfold in three phases: a pre-audit section lasting 5 to seven days, a three-to-five-day on-site audit, and a post-audit interval of ten to fifteen days for evaluation and follow-up. Entities audited are required to submit corrective motion plans inside 15 days of receiving findings. The DGCA will carefully monitor the implementation of those plans.
The regulator has deployed multidisciplinary audit groups led by senior officers and supported by subject material specialists drawn from varied domains inside aviation. These groups are conducting rigorous inspections. The first focus areas included Security Administration Techniques (SMS), operational effectivity, adherence to regulatory frameworks, and crew and useful resource administration protocols.
Based on officers, the audit was triggered by a variety of things, together with aviation accidents, critical incidents, recurring non-compliance points, in addition to findings flagged by the ICAO.
The method will unfold in three phases: a pre-audit section lasting 5 to seven days, a three-to-five-day on-site audit, and a post-audit interval of ten to fifteen days for evaluation and follow-up.
Findings from these audits shall be labeled, together with Degree 1 for speedy security dangers, Degree 2 for important however non-critical points, and a 3rd class for long-term observations.
Entities audited are required to submit Corrective Motion Plans (CAPs) inside 15 days of receiving findings. The DGCA will carefully monitor the implementation of those plans.
The DGCA has made it clear that failure to adjust to audit suggestions may entice penalties reminiscent of suspension of operations and even cancellation of licences in circumstances of violation of security norms.
