Aviation regulator DGCA receives global recognition from ICAO

India’s aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been awarded the ICAO Council President Certificate at the opening of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal on Tuesday. The Assembly will continue until October 3.

The award was presented to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of DGCA, in recognition of India’s remarkable progress in improving aviation safety oversight. The ICAO Council President Certificate is part of the UN body’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative, which aims to ensure that all member states can meet international safety and efficiency standards.

According to ICAO, the award is given on the basis of transparent and objective criteria, primarily drawn from the results of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). This global audit system monitors how effectively countries implement international safety rules and procedures.

India’s aviation safety oversight faced significant challenges in the past. In 2017, the country’s Effective Implementation (EI) score was just 55.15%, indicating weaknesses in several areas, including aviation legislation, licensing, flight operations, accident investigations, and airport oversight.

Following the poor assessment, the DGCA undertook a series of comprehensive reforms. These included strengthening regulations, improving inspector training, enhancing accident investigation systems, and introducing stricter compliance monitoring mechanisms.

The reforms bore fruit in November 2022, when ICAO’s audit found that India’s EI score had risen sharply to 85.65%. This performance not only reflected a strong turnaround but also placed India ahead of major aviation markets like the United States and China in key areas such as aircraft operations and airworthiness.

A formal ICAO communication praised India’s efforts, noting that the achievement reflects “objective progress and measurable improvements” in its regulatory framework.

The recognition is being seen as a significant milestone for India’s fast-growing aviation sector, which is now among the world’s largest. It also reinforces DGCA’s commitment to aligning India’s aviation safety standards with the highest levels of international practice.