NEW DELHI: India’s civil aviation ministry has reprimanded the country’s aviation safety regulator over conflict-of-interest lapses involving officials whose relatives secured jobs in the aviation sector.
The ministry has repeatedly questioned the Directorate General of Civil Aviation since mid-2025 over its handling of cases involving officials’ family members working in airlines and aviation companies, including Air India.
A January DGCA document reviewed by the media said the regulator had failed to effectively prevent or manage the possible influence of officials in the recruitment or placement of relatives, family members or dependents.
The issue comes at a sensitive time for the DGCA, which oversees one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets while facing staffing shortages, safety scrutiny and an upcoming US Federal Aviation Administration audit.
According to the documents, 51 DGCA officials had disclosed 59 relatives working in the sector as of January 31, up from 33 officials disclosing 41 relatives a year earlier.
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The relatives were employed at companies including IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, Airbus India, flying schools and airport operators.
One case involved a DGCA assistant director of engineering whose sister joined Air India’s quality department while he was involved in regulatory approvals affecting the airline.
The ministry rejected the DGCA’s explanation and said the officer’s influence could not be ruled out.
Aviation training association official Harsh Vardhan Pratap Singh told the media that the DGCA should publish a list of officers whose relatives work in the sector.
