**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Unstarred Question No. 191 in Lok Sabha, scheduled to be answered on January 29, 2026. The question concerns the Government's efforts to strengthen aviation safety frameworks. The response details measures taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enhance aviation safety.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Strengthening Aviation Safety Framework:**
* DGCA has a structured procedure for collaboration with the aviation industry.
* DGCA publishes and amends Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) after stakeholder consultation.
* Regulations are evaluated against international best practices and harmonized standards.
* **Proactive Risk-Based Safety Management:**
* DGCA established the Safety Data Collection and Processing System (SDCPS).
* SDCPS identifies National High-Risk Categories (N-HRCs) and their Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs).
* SDCPS aligns with the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP).
* SDCPS data measures N-HRC and SPI performance in the Annual Safety Review.
* Service providers, including airlines and airports, adopt similar approaches within their Safety Management Systems.
* **Capacity Building:**
* DGCA has a comprehensive training program for its officers based on international standards.
* Training includes initial, recurrent, and specialized training.
* DGCA prescribes training requirements for aviation professionals, including maintenance personnel, through CARs and circulars.
* **Alignment with International Standards:**
* Section 11 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 enables the Government to implement the Convention relating to International Civil Aviation.
* **Safety Oversight:**
* DGCA has a robust mechanism for safety oversight including surveillances, spot checks, regulatory and special audits.
* The oversight encompasses all aircraft and airport operators.
* DGCA publishes an Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) on its website, with directorates conducting surveillance/spot checks.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Aviation Industry Stakeholders (Airlines, Airports, Maintenance Personnel, etc.):**
**Impact:** Compliance with DGCA regulations, CARs, and safety standards is required.
**Action Required:** Adopt similar approaches to SDCPS within Safety Management Systems, adhere to training requirements as prescribed by CARs and circulars, and comply with DGCA oversight activities (surveillances, audits, etc.)
* **DGCA Officers and Aviation Professionals:**
**Impact:** Must participate in initial, recurrent, and specialized training programs.
**Action Required:** Complete required training, conduct surveillance and spot checks as per the Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP), and adhere to regulatory guidance.
* **Passengers and Operators:**
**Impact:** Benefit from enhanced aviation safety and increased public confidence in the aviation sector.
**Action Required:** No direct action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The primary regulator of civil aviation in India, responsible for strengthening aviation safety frameworks, establishing training programs, and ensuring compliance with rules and Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs).
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation in India.
Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR): Regulations published by the DGCA to address aviation safety requirements, amended based on stakeholder input and international best practices.
Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: Aviation Act enabling the Government to implement the Convention relating to International Civil Aviation.
Safety Data Collection and Processing System (SDCPS): A system established by DGCA to identify National High-Risk Categories (N-HRCs) and monitor Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) in alignment with the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 191
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
STRENGTHENING OF AVIATION SAFETY
191. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR
SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE
SMT BHARTI PARDHI
SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL
SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE
DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has intensified efforts to strengthen aviation safety
frameworks through collaboration with industry, regulators and stakeholders across
the civil aviation ecosystem, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) the measures adopted to promote proactive risk-based safety management,
continuous learning and integration of best practices across airlines and airports;
(c) whether capacity-building initiatives have been undertaken for aviation
professionals, maintenance personnel and regulators to minimise operational risks,
if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the manner in which the Government is ensuring alignment of national safety
standards with international civil aviation norms including those of the International
Civil Aviation Organization to protect passengers and operators; and
(e) the details of the expected impact of these safety measures on enhancing public
confidence, reducing incidents and supporting the sustainable growth of the aviation
sector?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)(a): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has structured procedure to
strengthen aviation safety framework through collaboration with industry across the
civil aviation ecosystem. DGCA publishes all fresh or an amendment to Civil
Aviation Requirement (CAR) after inviting suggestions and comments from
stakeholders, to evaluate regulations against international best practices and globally
harmonized standards.
(b): DGCA has established the Safety Data Collection and Processing System
(SDCPS) to identify National High-Risk Categories (N-HRCs), their Safety
Performance Indicators (SPIs), and national targets, in alignment with the ICAO
Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP). SDCPS data measures N-HRC and SPI
performance, which is published in the Annual Safety Review. Service providers,
including airlines and airports, adopt a similar approach within their Safety
Management Systems.
(c): DGCA has an established comprehensive training programme for capacity
building of its Officers as per international standards and best practices which
includes initial, recurrent and specialized training as per their job requirements.
Further, DGCA has prescribed training requirements for the aviation professional
including maintenance personnel through specific CARs and regulatory guidance in
the form of circulars.
(d): Section 11 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, enables the Government
to make rules to implement the Convention relating to International Civil Aviation
including its Annex and International Standard & Recommended Practice.
(e): DGCA has a robust mechanism to enhance safety oversight for monitoring the
compliance of rules and CARs encompassing all the aircraft and the airport
operators. The safety oversight includes surveillances, spot check, regulatory and
special audits. DGCA publishes Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) on its website and
each directorate conduct surveillance/spot checks in their respective technical areas
as per ASP.
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