DGCA gives class 12 art and commerce students node to become commercial pilots in India; Ministry approval | Bharat News
New Delhi: In a major reform, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has indicated to change educational needs to become a commercial pilot in India, which is proposing to allow class 12 pass from art and commerce streams to carry forward this course.And now the commercial pilot license (CPL) for science students alone does not limit training, as it has been for almost three decades.The regulator has sent its recommendation to the Union Ministry of Aviation, which will be sent to the Law Ministry after finalizing the amendment. The ministry has to inform the change in the current rules, until now, a student requires physics and mathematics for Class 12 for CPL training. Once cleaned, all class 12 pass out – subject to cleaning medical fitness and other tests – will be eligible to become commercial pilots in India.A senior official said, “The recommendation of the DGCA has been sent to the Ministry of Aviation. Once they finalize it, the ministry will send it to the Law Ministry to inform the change. When this happens, the change will be effective,” a senior official said. TOI first took steps to allow art and commerce students to undergo CPL training in India on 18 April 2025.Since the mid -1990s, CPL training in India is open only to students of science and mathematics. Earlier, the 10th pass (matriculation) was the only educational requirement to do CPL here. The senior captain says that no country except India needs this. They call it an ancient requirement, which requires the level of knowledge of physics and mathematics required by the pilots, provided only in junior classes. In the last 30 years, many arts and commerce students were forced to take class 12 exams for physics and mathematics from open school to be eligible for CPL training.Once amending the number of students selecting for CPL training, the numbers have been amended once this rule, the aviation authorities have already started work to improve flying schools in India. A large number of students are forced to stay abroad every year to pursue this expensive course to fly this expensive course for a long time for CPL with suspected security and training standards of several flying schools in India.Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, head of DGCA, directed all flying schools in the country to “maintain a dedicated website for their organization” on 16 May, which should have updated information about several parameters, including other things, minimum and maximum time to complete 200 hours of flight; Number of aircraft, trainer, designated examinees, ground schools and simulator. DGCA head Faiz Ahmed Kidwai wants to bring transparency about Flying Training Organization (FTOS) so that the information in public domains on the basis of which students will choose them will make them competitive, safe and adapt to the student.On its behalf, FTO has indicated many things that DGCA should do to make flying training in India less painful. To become a pilot in India is anything but easy – right to get a job from the training phase. Most of the students come from the pilot middle class families who have taken a big loan to give wings to their children’s dreams.Senior pilots have a word of caution for all aspirational aviants. “Even after expensive CPL training and endorsement, it may take a long time to get a job. If you are planning to become a pilot, the whole family should be a financial aspect factor and the time should be interval in getting the job after complete training. The reality is not as Rosie as it seems to the Pilots.”
DGCA has proposed eligibility criteria:
