Lok Sabha Question No. 795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Vacancies in DGCA, BCAS and AAI
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 795 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24th July 2025 )

VACANCIES IN DGCA, BCAS AND AAI

795.    SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

## be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  acknowledges  that  over  53%  of sanctioned posts in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 35% in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and 17% in the Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI)  remain  vacant  despite  the  rapid growth of civil aviation sector in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  number of sanctioned posts in each of the institutions and the number of posts lying vacant as on date, category-wise;
- (c) whether the staffing gaps in these institutions have contributed to  recent  aviation  accidents  including  the  helicopter  crashes  in Uttarakhand and the Air India crash in Gujarat;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  such accidents;
- (e) the details of specific measures taken by the Government to fill the sanctioned posts, enhance safety oversight and fix accountability for recent safety lapses;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to initiate an audit of aviation safety protocols especially among  private and non-scheduled aviation operators; and

(g) if so, the timelines fixed for such an audit and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a)  to  (e):  Details  of  the  sanctioned  strength  and  vacancy  position Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA),  Bureau  of    Civil Aviation  Security  (BCAS)  and  Airports  Authority  of  India  (AAI)  are attached at Annexure I.; ; Keeping in view of current and future expansion of civil aviation and effective supervision, additional posts have been created in DGCA, BCAS and AAI in last couple of years. The shortfall has not impacted the  functioning  of  these  organizations.  Further,  all  methods  of recruitment  are  pursued  vigorously  in  order  to  ensure  timely  and continuous availability of requisite manpower. To meet requirements  in  the  interregnum  due  to  vacancies  arising  from reasons like inadequate response to advertisements, non-joining of selected candidates, persons with insufficient service in the feeder cadre  for  promotion,  insufficient  response  to  deputation  posts, efforts are made to recruit persons through short terms contractual hiring.; ; (f)  to  (g):  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  has  a comprehensive  and  structured    civil  aviation  regulations  for  safe operation  of  aircraft  and  its  maintenance.  These  regulations  are continuously updated  and aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)/European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.; ;

- DGCA  also  has  a  structured  surveillance  and  audit  framework  in place i.e. planned and  unplanned  surveillance of organization /aircraft,  which  includes  regular  and  periodic  audits,  spot  checks, night surveillance and ramp  inspections across all operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance practices.

******

## 1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation:-

| Group   |   Sanctioned posts |   Filled up |   Vacant |
|---------|--------------------|-------------|----------|
| Group A |               1123 |         548 |      575 |
| Group B |                161 |          93 |       68 |
| Group C |                360 |         180 |      180 |
| Total   |               1644 |         821 |      823 |

## 2. Airport Authority of India:-

| Group   |   Sanctioned posts |   Filled up |   Vacant |
|---------|--------------------|-------------|----------|
| Group A |               8268 |        6618 |     1650 |
| Group B |               7631 |        6288 |     1343 |
| Group C |               9831 |        3347 |     6484 |
| Total   |              25730 |       16253 |     9477 |

## 3. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security:-

| Group   |   Sanctioned posts |   Filled up |   Vacant |
|---------|--------------------|-------------|----------|
| Group A |                156 |         102 |       54 |
| Group B |                250 |         141 |      109 |
| Group C |                192 |         125 |       67 |
| Total   |                598 |         368 |      230 |

Note: Some  positions  have  been  created  in  the  last  couple  of  years  as  reflected below:

1.  In  DGCA,  441  posts  including  426  technical  posts,  have  been  created between 2022 and 2024.
2.  In  BCAS,  84  Operational  Posts  have  been  created  during  restructuring  in 2024.
3.  In  Airports  Authority  of  India,  840  posts  of  Air  Traffic  Controllers  (ATCOs) have been created recently.

## Annexure I