26th June 2025 (28 Topics)
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DGCA Launches Comprehensive Aviation Safety Audit
Context
Following the tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 people on board and 30 on the ground, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive safety audit of the entire aviation sector.
What is the current state of India’s aviation sector?
- India is now the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, after the United States and China.
- With over 150 functional airports, including both international and regional ones, the sector has expanded rapidly in the last two decades.
- Airlines like IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara (merged with Air India), and Akasa Air dominate the skies.
- A significant chunk of the aviation activity happens in metro cities, but schemes like UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) are making regional connectivity affordable and accessible for common citizens.
What is the need for Stronger Oversight?
- India’s aviation sector has faced growing safety and regulatory challenges.
- The tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad exposed several weaknesses in the existing system.
- Investigations pointed towards issues like poor oversight of crew rest hours, fatigue management, and fragmented auditing.
What is the DGCA Doing?
- DGCA will conduct a 360-degree safety audit of the aviation ecosystem, which includes:
- Safety Management Systems (SMS)
- Operational efficiency
- Compliance with international norms (ICAO SARPs)
- Training and crew duty oversight
- For the first time, audits will be done holistically, not in silos (i.e., not just by one directorate at a time). Multidisciplinary teams will inspect all domains — airworthiness, licensing, air navigation, etc.
- ICAO SARPs: The audit aligns with Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
- India is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Current Governance Reforms and Issues
- Privatization of Air India (2022) to improve efficiency and reduce fiscal burden
- UDAN Scheme: Regional connectivity at subsidized rates (launched 2017)
- GAGAN and ADS-B: Indigenous air navigation systems for improved flight safety
- Bilateral Air Service Agreements: Liberalized access to foreign carriers
Governance of Indian AviationThe Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is the nodal ministry that formulates national civil aviation policies, manages bilateral air service agreements, and promotes airport infrastructure. The actual implementation and regulation are handled by specialized agencies:
Legal and Regulatory Framework
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