# Pilots’ body urges PM Modi to replace DGCA with autonomous regulator

2026-08-08T20:23:24+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to replace the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In a letter dated August 6, FIP President Capt CS Randhawa said India, now the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, remains an outlier among major economies by relying on the DGCA, an attached office of the ministry. The proposal, which first emerged in 2013-14 but lapsed, would create a statutory regulator with financial, administrative and technical independence. India's commercial fleet now has over 850 aircraft and passenger traffic exceeds 23.9 crore. The pilots' body argues that DGCA's structure limits recruitment of specialists and timely decisions.

## Coverage

- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/pilots-body-writes-to-pm-modi-pushes-for-civil-aviation-authority-to-replace-dgca-2026-08-08-1050812>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pilots-body-writes-to-pm-modi-calls-for-autonomous-civil-aviation-authority-to-replace-dgca-article-155387513>
- aajtak.in <https://www.aajtak.in/business/news/story/federation-of-indian-pilots-replace-dgca-with-civil-aviation-authority-pm-modi-ntc-vhrw-dskc-2618306-2026-08-09?utm_source=rss>

Tags: air safety, Civil Aviation Authority, DGCA, pilots, PM Modi
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