**Executive Summary**
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 30, 2026, to enhance training and research in aviation engineering and management. The partnership aims to develop a skilled workforce for India’s expanding aviation and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sectors. A key deliverable is the implementation of a new three-year B.Sc. curriculum starting in the 2026-27 academic year (August 2026).
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Educational and Curriculum Development**
* Launch of a three-year B.Sc. in Aviation Maintenance Engineering (AME) designed to integrate academic depth with regulatory compliance.
* GSV will serve as the national academic anchor for curriculum innovation, instructor development, and industry-linked apprenticeship models.
* The curriculum will incorporate hands-on MRO training, simulation labs, and competency-based learning pathways.
* The program is scheduled for implementation starting August 2026.
**Research and Strategic Partnership**
* GSV is designated as a research and knowledge partner for DGCA in areas including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), aircraft maintenance, and parts manufacturing.
* The MoU establishes a structured bridge between regulation (DGCA), academia (GSV), and the aviation industry.
* Establishment of a center of excellence for precision manufacturing engineering at GSV to support the "Viksit Bharat" initiative.
**Regulatory and Capacity Building**
* DGCA will maintain responsibility for setting licensing standards under the CAR-66 and CAR-147 frameworks.
* GSV will provide capacity building and specialized training for DGCA officers.
* The partnership focuses on creating an aviation manufacturing ecosystem to support the projected requirement of 10,000 to 12,000 pilots and a fleet of up to 3,000 aircraft by 2036.
**Impact Analysis**
**Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)**
**Impact:** GSV assumes a pivotal role as a national academic anchor and research partner, expanding its influence through 62 existing industry collaborations and new responsibilities in aviation training.
**Action Required:** Collaboratively design the B.Sc. (AME) curriculum with DGCA and prepare for the August 2026 program launch.
**Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
**Impact:** DGCA gains a dedicated research partner and a structured pipeline for producing licensed, industry-ready professionals while enhancing the technical skills of its own officers.
**Action Required:** Provide regulatory guidance for the new curriculum and coordinate with GSV on research and officer training initiatives.
**Aviation and MRO Industry**
**Impact:** The sector will benefit from a standardized, "future-ready" workforce and an increased number of MRO facilities, which have already grown from 160 to over 240.
**Action Required:** Participate in industry-linked apprenticeship models and OEM partnerships to integrate students into the workforce.
**Youth and Aspiring Aviation Professionals**
**Impact:** Students gain access to specialized, industry-aligned undergraduate degrees within India, reducing the need to seek training abroad.
**Action Required:** Prospective students must meet the enrollment requirements for the B.Sc. (AME) program starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The Indian aviation regulator responsible for setting licensing standards and collaborating with academia to develop a skilled aviation workforce.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV): A specialized university acting as the national academic anchor for aviation curriculum innovation, research, and industry-linked training.
B.Sc. (Aviation Maintenance Engineering): A new three-year undergraduate program designed to integrate academic depth with regulatory compliance for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector.
CAR-66 and CAR-147: Regulatory frameworks and Civil Aviation Requirements used by the DGCA to set standards for aircraft maintenance licensing and training.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
DGCA signs MoU with Gati Shakti
Vishwavidyalaya to train youth in broad areas of
Aviation, including Aviation Engineering and
Aviation Management
Most important part in the aviation sector is how well we are
able to create an aviation manufacturing ecosystem in the
country, says Civil Aviation Minister
Posted On: 30 MAR 2026 9:02PM by PIB Delhi
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) have signed
an MoU with an objective of sharing/enhancing of knowledge, skills relevant to the scientific,
technological, and management aspects in the broad areas of Aviation, Aviation Engineering and
Aviation Management. It was signed by DGCA Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai and Vice Chancellor of
GSV Prof Manoj Choudhury in the presence of Minister of Civil Aviation Shi Kinjarapu Rammohan
Naidu and Minster of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information
Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. Secretary, Civil Aviation Shri Samir Kumar Sinha, Chairman
Railway Board Shri Satish Kumar and other senior officials from DGCA, Railways and GSV were
also present during the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, Shi Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, “On a very historic MoU that we
have signed between Gati Shakti and DGCA, I would first like to congratulate both the units for
being the foundation of one of the most important MoUs that is going to transform the overall
aviation sector in terms of the workforce that we are trying to build for tomorrow,” adding, “Under
the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have witnessed tremendous
success in the last 12 years. Especially what started as the mantra “hawai chappal se hawai jahaj ka
safar”, where we wanted aviation to be not just an exclusive sector for travel but an inclusive sector
for travel.”
The primary objective of this MoU is to promote quality manpower for the aviation and MRO sector
through an undergraduate degree in Aviation Maintenance Engineering (AME) by enhanced
industry-academia partnerships. The curriculum shall be implemented from the upcoming academic
year 2026-27 (August 2026) onwards. In opening remark Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation
addressed the gathering saying that signing of this MoU is a historic moment. Both GSV and DGCA
will work together and collaboratively design a future-ready three-year B.Sc. (AME) curriculum that
seamlessly integrates academic depth, regulatory compliance, and industry-aligned competencies to
power India’s next-generation MRO. In the MoU, it has also been proposed that GSV shall also
work with DGCA as its research / knowledge partner in the field of Sustainable Aviation Fuels
(SAF), Aircraft Maintenance, Parts Manufacturing and its integration. GSV will also support in the
capacity building and training of other DGCA officers.
Speaking about the future of aviation sector in the country, the Minister said, “The most important
part in the aviation sector is how well we are able to create an aviation manufacturing ecosystem in
the country, and this is something we have focused on. We have seen tremendous success in the last
5 years, especially in terms of MROs, which have increased from around 160 to more than 240.”
Shri Shi Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu further elaborated, “We always talk about the demand India is
creating in aviation. It is a very huge figure—we have around 1700 aircraft on order, which itself
gives you the picture of nearly 2X of the current fleet. These aircraft are going to take few years to
come into our airspace. Once the whole ecosystem is built, we may have up to 3,000 aircraft in ourairspace by, probably, 2036.” He said that by then, all these aircraft must be supported by the right
workforce. The requirement for pilots in the next 10 years is going to be around 10,000 to 12,000.
Currently, many pilots prefer to do their training outside and then come back to India.
Speaking about achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Minister said, “By 2047, we aim to become a
developed country, and for that, we must be self-reliant. We want to see an Atmanirbhar Bharat—
where we make in India and train in India. All these components, when combined together, are what
this MoU is going to focus on.”
In closing remark Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw reiterated that the GSV has already earned its worldwide
reputation and entered in collaboration with sixty two industry partners to produce industry ready
professionals. He also called upon to establish a centre of excellence for precision manufacturing
engineering in GSV to support the initiative of Viksit Bharat.This MoU will establish structured bridge between regulation, academia, and industry. While DGCA
continues to set licensing standards under CAR-66 and CAR-147 frameworks, GSV shall function as
a national academic anchor for curriculum innovation, instructor development, research integration,
and industry-linked apprenticeship models. By embedding hands-on MRO training, simulation labs,
OEM partnerships, and competency-based learning pathways into AME education, the GSV- DGCA
collaboration shall create a future-ready workforce capable of supporting India’s expanding airline
fleets and positioning the country as a competitive global MRO destination not only for aircraft
maintenance but also for aircraft manufacturing.
*****
Divyanshu Kumar
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