The operational meltdown of IndiGo, India's largest airline, in early December has sharply refocused attention on a long-standing structural flaw within the country's aviation oversight body. The crisis has reignited urgent questions about the need for technically experienced specialists, rather than generalist bureaucrats, to lead the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A Crisis Born from Mismanagement and Oversight
In the first week of December 2025, IndiGo canceled more than 4,500 flights due to a severe pilot shortage. The airline failed to comply with new DGCA regulations that capped pilots' flying hours between midnight and 6 AM. The nationwide disruption prompted immediate action from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA, which launched an investigation, slashed IndiGo's daily flights by 10%, and summoned the airline's top executives, CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras.
While the immediate blame fell on IndiGo's mismanagement, aviation experts quickly turned the lens on the regulator itself. Sanjay Lazar, an aviation safety specialist and CEO of Avialaz Consulting, pointed out critical lapses, stating that authorities failed to identify the brewing problems, prune unrealistic flight schedules in time, or verify if airlines had adequate pilot resources, even as troubles surfaced in November.
The Revolving Door of Bureaucratic Leadership
The core of the concern lies in the leadership of the DGCA. Over the past 17 years, ten different officials have served as Director General, all of them serving or retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. The last non-IAS officer to head the regulator was technocrat Kanu Gohain, who retired in 2008 after rising through the DGCA's own ranks. The current chief, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, a 1996-batch IAS officer, took charge in January 2025, having previously served in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Experts argue that this pattern of appointing generalist administrators with no specialized aviation background has significantly weakened the regulator's technical depth and continuity. Captain Mohan Ranganathan, a former airline instructor pilot, emphasized that the DGCA needs a leader with domain knowledge and qualified experience, not someone who must first learn the subject on the job.
Global Contrast and the Call for an Independent Regulator
This model starkly contrasts with global standards where aviation regulators are typically led by specialists. The head of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford, is a former airline CEO with over three decades of experience. Similarly, the chief of Europe's EASA, Florian Guillermet, has an extensive background in air traffic control and aviation.
The debate is not new. Amit Singh, CEO of Safety Matters Foundation and a former pilot, noted that as far back as 1997, the landmark Air Marshal J.K. Seth report recommended an autonomous aviation regulator staffed by sector specialists. These recommendations, which also advocated for the DGCA's independence from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, were never implemented.
Beyond expertise, the short tenures of IAS officers—often just one or two years—create leadership instability. Singh highlighted that this prevents continuity in regulatory oversight and makes the institution vulnerable to influence from lower-ranking officials who possess greater operational knowledge.
An Overburdened System Facing Unprecedented Growth
The urgency for reform is amplified by India's explosive aviation growth. The country's top three carriers plan to add nearly 1,800 new aircraft by 2035. However, the DGCA is described as an overburdened and understaffed body with about half of its 1,630 sanctioned posts currently vacant, as disclosed in Parliament by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol.
Proposals for reform are gaining traction. Experts like Sanjay Lazar suggest splitting the DGCA into two separate entities—one for administrative regulation and another for technical oversight, led by an aviator or technical expert. This restructuring is seen as vital to building a robust regulator capable of ensuring safety and stability in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets.
The IndiGo crisis, following the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad six months prior that claimed at least 260 lives, underscores a critical juncture for Indian aviation. The consensus is clear: sustainable growth demands a strong, independent, and technically proficient regulator at the helm.
