Civil Aviation in India – Departments, Authorities & Organisations

I. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)

• Established: 1945 (as a separate Ministry in its current form)
• Role:
  • Formulates national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of civil aviation.
  • Oversees airport infrastructure, airlines, regulatory authorities, and safety.
  • Coordinates with ICAO and other international aviation bodies.

II. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• Established: 1945 (under Department of Civil Aviation)
• Origin: Civil Aviation Directorate (1927)
• Governing Law: Aircraft Act, 1934 ✅
• Statutory Status: Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020
• Nature of Change: Given statutory recognition as independent regulator, along with BCAS & AAIB
• Key Functions:
  • Regulates civil aviation safety and airworthiness
  • Issues licenses to pilots, engineers, ATC personnel
  • Aircraft registration and certification
  • Conducts audits of airlines and airports
  • Investigates accidents (till 2012; now AAIB)
  • Coordinates ICAO SARPs compliance

III. Airports Authority of India (AAI)

• Established: 1995
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Role:
  • Operates and manages airports and ATS
  • Maintains air navigation infrastructure
  • Provides CNS services

IV. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)

• Established: 1978 (independent from 1987)
• Role:
  • Regulatory authority for civil aviation security
  • Audits airports, airlines, cargo facilities
  • Implements NCASP

V. Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)

• Established: 2009 under AERA Act, 2008
• Role:
  • Regulates aeronautical service tariffs
  • Monitors airport performance standards
  • Ensures transparency and fair pricing

VI. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

• Established: 2012 under Aircraft Rules, 2012
• Role:
  • Investigates aircraft accidents and incidents
  • Aims to enhance safety and prevent recurrence
  • Reports to MoCA

VII. Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics / Aviation Academies

• Established: 1991 (IGIA)
• Role: Provides training in pilot training, ATC, aviation management

VIII. Pawan Hans Limited (PHL)

• Established: 1985
• Ownership: Government of India (MoCA)
• Role:
  • Helicopter services for ONGC, public services
  • Supports North-East and hilly region connectivity

IX. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

• Established: 1940 (renamed HAL in 1964)
• Role:
  • Manufactures civil and military aircraft
  • Supports civil projects like Dornier, Saras

X. Air India Limited

• Established: 1932 (Tata Airlines); nationalized in 1953, privatized in 2022
• Role: National carrier; enhances global connectivity & aviation diplomacy

XI. UDAN Scheme (RCS Cell under MoCA)

• Established: 2017
• Role:
  • Administers regional air connectivity
  • Subsidizes unserved & underserved airports

Other Relevant Institutions

• ICAO (1944): India is a member; DGCA ensures compliance
• Flight Inspection Unit (1959): AAI unit for nav aid calibration
• National Aviation University (2016): RGNAU offers aviation education
• IMD Aviation Services (since 1875): Airport weather forecasting

Recent Developments

• Drone Rules 2021 and Digital Sky Platform under DGCA
• Privatization of major airports (Delhi, Mumbai, etc.)
• One Nation One Airspace: MoCA’s civil-defense airspace integration plan