DGCA Proposes Pilot Training Eligibility for Non-Science Students in India
In a landmark move set to transform India’s aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cleared a proposal to allow Class 12 arts and commerce students to pursue commercial pilot training — potentially ending a nearly three-decade-old rule restricting pilot eligibility to science stream graduates.
Until now, aspiring commercial pilots in India had to pass their Class 12 board exams with physics and mathematics, a condition that has barred thousands of non-science students from joining the cockpit. Many candidates from arts and commerce streams were forced to retake their exams through open schooling just to meet the eligibility criteria.
The DGCA’s recent recommendation, now awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the law ministry, signals a significant shift toward inclusivity. If approved, all Class 12 graduates, regardless of their academic background, will be eligible to apply for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training—provided they clear the mandatory medical and aptitude assessments.
India Today has confirmed that the DGCA’s proposal has already been forwarded to MoCA, which will review the recommendation before sending it to the law ministry for legal notification and implementation.
Industry experts have long criticised India’s stringent science-only eligibility rule, pointing out that many countries worldwide do not restrict pilot training based on academic streams. They argue that the technical knowledge required for flying, such as physics and maths, is generally basic and covered in earlier schooling, making the requirement for Class 12 science an unnecessary barrier.
The reform is expected to democratise access to pilot training, especially as India faces a growing shortage of trained commercial pilots amid expanding airline operations and increasing domestic and international air travel demand.
An inclusive eligibility policy could encourage many more aspirants from diverse educational backgrounds to take up aviation careers, easing the strain on India’s pilot supply and supporting the aviation sector’s ambitious growth plans.
Aviation analysts also note that making pilot training accessible beyond the science stream aligns with global best practices and could foster greater diversity within India’s pilot community.
While the final nod rests with the law ministry, the DGCA’s proposal is being hailed as a progressive step toward making India’s aviation sector more inclusive and future-ready.
If the law ministry approves, the changes will come into effect soon, potentially opening cockpit doors to thousands of dreamers who were previously sidelined by academic restrictions.
IT.
