Govt approves proposal to replace DGCA by Civil Aviation Authority

12 Jul 2013 Evaluate

The union cabinet has given a principal approval to the proposal for replacing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by a new aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with full operational and financial autonomy. The bill is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

Noting that the DGCA has limited delegation of financial powers and hence is incapable of making adequate structural changes to meet the demands of a dynamic civil aviation sector, the government expressed the need to replace it with CAA, which would have more administrative and financial powers to deal with the fast-changing aviation scenario. Further, the government wants to establish CAA to meet the standards set by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and to come in line with aviation regulators in other countries like the US Federal Aviation Administration and UK's CAA.

The proposed CAA would manage safety oversight over air transport operators, regulate civil aviation safety, air service navigation operators and operators of other civil aviation facilities. Further, it would also deal with matters relating to financial stress on safety of air operations, as witnessed in connection with the closure of the bankrupt Kingfisher Airlines last year. Moreover the issues related to the consumer protection and environment regulations in civil aviation sector would also be addressed by the new authority.

The proposed CAA authority would have a chairperson, a Director General and 7-9 members, including five whole-time members. All of them would be appointed by the centre on the recommendation of a selection committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The estimated cost of establishing the new authority would be over Rs 110 crore. The CAA would be self-financing and would establish a separate fund, called the Civil Aviation Authority of India Fund, which would be used to pay all expenses of the authority. Further, this fund would also get budgetary support.   

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×