India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is grappling with a severe manpower crisis, with nearly half of its sanctioned positions lying vacant. In a stopgap measure, the regulator is now looking to hire staff on a short-term contractual basis to fill critical gaps, a move experts label as insufficient for the world's fastest-growing aviation market.
A Critical Shortfall in Aviation Oversight
Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday that 801 posts out of the DGCA's sanctioned strength of 1,630 are currently vacant. This means the regulator is operating with just 829 filled positions. While Mohol asserted that this shortfall has not impacted surveillance plans, the numbers paint a concerning picture of chronic understaffing.
The situation has shown little improvement over time. Previous data submitted to the Lok Sabha revealed that as of March 31, 2025, 814 out of 1,692 sanctioned posts were unfilled, with the DGCA having only 878 staff members on its rolls. Between March 2020 and March 2025, the regulator added just 116 employees, even as the number of unfilled positions surged from 471 to 814.
Contractual Hiring: A Temporary Fix for a Permanent Problem
To address the immediate need, the ministry is pushing for short-term contractual appointments, which could last for one year depending on the role. "...to meet the requirement in the interregnum, efforts are made to recruit persons through short term contractual hiring," Mohol stated in a written response. He cited reasons like inadequate response to job ads and selected candidates not joining as triggers for this interim measure.
However, aviation safety specialists have slammed this approach as a superficial solution. Sanjay Lazar, CEO of Avialaz Consultants, called it "only a band-aid solution and reflects a lack of seriousness in addressing the problem." He estimated that such hiring would fill, at best, 20% of the gap, emphasizing that to tackle a 50% deficit, the DGCA needs continuous, monthly inductions of permanent staff.
Mark D. Martin, CEO of Martin Consulting, highlighted the stark reality of the workload. With nearly 2,000 aircraft requiring inspection from commercial carriers, private jets, and flying schools, the DGCA's 830 staff are stretched dangerously thin. "In comparison to India, where 1 person is inspecting over two aircraft, the global average is 2.5 people inspecting one aircraft," he told Mint, underscoring the severity of the understaffing.
Growing Fleet, Stagnant Oversight
The staffing crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of explosive growth in Indian aviation. Between March 2020 and March 2025, the combined fleet of major Indian airlines like IndiGo, Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet grew from 566 to 780 aircraft. Simply put, India's skies are adding planes far faster than it is adding people to regulate their safe operation.
The issue came into sharp focus following the tragic Air India crash on July 21, 2025, which claimed 241 lives and raised alarms over regulatory oversight. In the aftermath, it was revealed that the DGCA had created 441 new posts between 2022 and 2024, including 426 technical roles. Yet, the vacancy level persists at around 50%.
Lazar pointed to deeper systemic issues, questioning why candidates are not opting for DGCA roles. "It could be the terms and conditions, or inadequate incentives because clearly something isn't appealing enough," he said. He warned of a future where, if the industry doubles and DGCA staffing remains stagnant, the regulator's effective capacity could plummet to 25%.
The civil aviation ministry and DGCA did not respond to queries on the matter. As India's aviation sector continues its rapid ascent, the gap between its regulatory needs and its regulatory capacity remains a critical challenge that experts insist demands a more permanent and strategic solution than short-term contracts.
