Parliament Question: Aviation safety oversight and DGCA capacity

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 987 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th February 2026 AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT AND DGCA CAPACITY 987. DR. DINESH SHARMA SHRI MAYANKKUMAR NAYAK SMT KIRAN CHOUDHRY SHRI LAHAR SINGH SIROYA SHRI AMAR PAL MAURYA DR. MEDHA VISHRAM KULKARNI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the number of safety audits, ramp inspections, and surveillance checks conducted by DGCA since January, 2025; (b) whether any recurring technical or operational deficiencies have been identified across airlines; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) manner in which shortages of inspectors, pilots, and technical specialists within DGCA are being addressed; and (e) the steps taken to strengthen real-time monitoring and enforcement mechanisms ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a): DGCA carried out following surveillance activities in 2025:. Planned Surveillance Activities: (i) Surveillance Inspections: 3,890 conducted (ii) Regulatory Audits: 56 conducted (iii) Surveillance of Foreign Aircraft (SOFA): 84 conducted (iv) Ramp Checks: 492 conductedUnplanned Surveillance Activities: (i) Spot Checks: 874 conducted (ii) Night Surveillance: 550 conducted (b) & (c): During operations, an aircraft may experience technical faults due to malfunctioning of components /equipment fitted on the aircraft which require rectification action by the airlines for continued safe, efficient and reliable air transport service. (d):DGCA has 1063 sanctioned technical pots out of which 441 posts have been created between 2022-24 to meet the requirement on account of expansion of aviation sector and enhanced role of DGCA as a safety regulator. (e): DGCA has issued Surveillance and Enforcement Division Circular No. 1/2025 dated 07 July 2025, mandating the use of the eGCA Portal for all surveillance activities, issuance and closure of Deficiency Reporting Form (CA-2001), and enforcement orders which enables the monitoring and tracking of the entire surveillance and enforcement process on real time basis. ******