This is a summary of an unstarred question (No. 2167) in the Lok Sabha to be answered on February 12, 2026, regarding Airline Transport Pilot Licenses. Dr. Sharmila Sarkar asked the Minister of Civil Aviation to provide details on: the total number of active pilots in the country; the number of Commercial Pilot License (CPL) holders who are unemployed or not in active service; the number of Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL) issued in the country since 2014, year-wise; the number of ATPL license holders currently in active service; and the number of pilots holding ATPL licenses who are unemployed or not in active service.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, provided the following information:
* Details of pilots below the age of 65 years holding various categories of licenses issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are in Annexure A. The categories and totals are: ATPL Aeroplane (10051), ATPL Helicopter (210), CPL Aeroplane (Only) (12480), CPL Helicopter (Only) (777), PPL Aeroplane (Only) (1477), and PPL Helicopter (Only) (6), for a total of 25001.
* Details of the total number of Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL) issued in the country since 2014 are in Annexure B. The number of licenses issued each year is as follows: 2014 (559), 2015 (421), 2016 (482), 2017 (501), 2018 (599), 2019 (752), 2020 (398), 2021 (472), 2022 (720), 2023 (664), 2024 (561), 2025 (646).
* Details of unemployment for pilots holding Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL) are not maintained.
Key Entities Referenced
Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL): The primary subject of the parliamentary question, concerning the number of licenses issued and held by pilots.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The authority responsible for issuing pilot licenses.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry to which the parliamentary question is directed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2167
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th February 2026 )
AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT LICENSES
2167. DR. SHARMILA SARKAR
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the total number of active pilots in the country;
(b) the details of the total number of pilots holding Commercial Pilot Licences who
are unemployed or not in active service;
(c) the details of the total number of Airline Transport Pilot Licences (ATPL) issued
in the country since 2014, year-wise;
(d) the details of the total number of ATPL licence holders currently in active service;
and
(e) the details of the number of pilots holding ATPL licences who are unemployed or
not in active service?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (e): Details of Pilots who are below the age of 65 years and holding various
categories of licenses issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
are attached at Annexure A.
The details of the total number of Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL) issued in
the country since 2014 are attached at Annexure B.
No such detail of unemployment of pilots holding Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
or Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) is maintained.
******Annexure A
Details of Pilots who are below the age of 65 years and holding various categories
of licenses issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are as
under:-
S.No. License Category Total
1 ATPL Aeroplane 10051
2 ATPL Helicopter 210
3 CPL Aeroplane (Only) 12480
4 CPL Helicopter (Only) 777
5 PPL Aeroplane (Only) 1477
6 PPL Helicopter (Only) 6
Total 25001Annexure B
Details of the total number of Airline Transport Pilot Licenses (ATPL) issued in
the country since 2014 are as under:-
S. No. Year ATPL issued
1 2014 559
2 2015 421
3 2016 482
4 2017 501
5 2018 599
6 2019 752
7 2020 398
8 2021 472
9 2022 720
10 2023 664
11 2024 561
12 2025 646