The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Aviation Career Guidance Programme (ACGP) on April 9, 2025, to raise awareness of aviation careers among school students, including opportunities for obtaining a Commercial Pilot License. The program targets students in Classes 11-12 and provides counseling from aviation professionals, offering career guidance, industry insights, and self-assessment support. To ensure equitable access, the Ministry supports aviation education through institutions like Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) and Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), which adhere to government norms on reservation and fee concessions. RGNAU offers a 10% tuition fee waiver for women, while IGRUA provides reservations and relaxations for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) courses. The creation of jobs in the aviation sector over the next decade will be influenced by sectoral growth, including passenger traffic, airline fleet expansion, airport development, and support infrastructure such as MRO, cargo, and training facilities. Aviation careers are also facilitated by private Flight Training Organizations (FTOs), AME institutes, Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs), airlines, airports, and State Governments.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector.
Aviation Career Guidance Programme (ACGP): A program launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to create awareness among school students about aviation careers.
Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi (IGRUA): An aviation training academy that supports aviation education, follows government norms on reservation and fee concessions and provides reservations and relaxations for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) courses.
Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU): An aviation university that supports aviation education and follows Government norms on reservation and fee concessions. RGNAU offers a 10% tuition fee waiver for women.
Commercial Pilot License (CPL): A license that permits a person to act as a pilot of an aircraft for remuneration.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME): A course related to the maintenance and repair of aircraft.
Scheduled Castes (SC): A group of historically disadvantaged communities in India that are recognized by the Constitution of India.
Scheduled Tribes (ST): A group of historically disadvantaged indigenous communities in India that are recognized by the Constitution of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4736
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21st August 2025 )
OPPORTUNITIES UNDER AVIATION CAREER GUIDANCE
PROGRAMME
4736. SMT POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM
SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the total number of schools and students targeted to be covered under the Aviation Career
Guidance Programme, State-wise;
(b) the steps being taken to ensure equitable access to aviation careers for women and the
students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Economically
Weaker Sections (EWS);
(c) the estimated number of jobs likely to be created in the aviation sector over the next
decade; and
(d) the manner in which the said programme prepares students for the expected job
opportunities?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar
Mohol)
(a) Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Aviation Career Guidance Programme (ACGP)
on 09.04.2025 to create awareness among school students about aviation careers, including
Commercial Pilot License.
(b) The Ministry supports aviation education through Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi
(IGRUA) and Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), which follow
Government norms on reservation and fee concessions. RGNAU offers a 10% tuition fee
waiver for women, while IGRUA provides reservations and relaxations for Commercial Pilot
Licence (CPL) and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) courses. Notably, women
constitute 15% of Indian pilots, nearly three times the global average. Aviation careers are
also facilitated by private FTOs, AME institutes, ATOs, airlines, airports, and State
Governments.
(c) Job creation in aviation over the next decade will depend on sectoral growth, driven by
rising passenger traffic, airline fleet expansion, airport development, and strengthening of
support infrastructure including MRO, cargo, and training facilities.(d) The ACGP provides counseling by aviation professionals to Class 11&12 students,
offering career guidance, industry insights, and self-assessment support to help identify
suitable career paths.
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