# Pilots’ body urges PM to replace DGCA with autonomous regulator 2026-08-09T06:08:15+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Federation of Indian Pilots has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to establish an autonomous statutory Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In its August 6 letter, the FIP argued that India, now the third-largest domestic aviation market, remains an outlier among major economies by still using a government department, while neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka operate autonomous CAAs. The proposal revives core elements from the lapsed 2013 Civil Aviation Authority Bill. It recommends creating a dedicated fund sustained by user fees, allowing the authority to hire experts at market salaries, and forming a professional board with fixed terms. The FIP says the DGCA's current structure suffers from lack of independence, rigid pay scales, and financial constraints, as its revenue goes to the Consolidated Fund. ## Coverage - livemint.com Tags: aviation regulation, Civil Aviation Authority, DGCA, Federation of Indian Pilots, India aviation, PM Modi Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/pilots-body-urges-pm-to-replace-dgca-with-autonomous-regulator-2/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/pilots-body-urges-pm-to-replace-dgca-with-autonomous-regulator-2/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.