DGCA Enhances Monitoring of Airlines to Ensure Compliance with Norms

The civil aviation ministry on 9^th March 2026 said the DGCA has augmented monitoring of critical airline operations, with weekly and fortnightly checks, as well as bi-monthly visits by DGCA inspectors to airlines' offices to ensure compliance with regulations.

Responding to an enquiry in the Rajya Sabha for the significant disruptions at IndiGo in December 2025 and action taken to avert recurrence of a similar situation in the future, Union Miinster Murlidhar Mohol said the key causes for the disruption were over-optimization of operations, insufficient regulatory preparedness accompanied by deficiencies in system software support and shortcomings in management structure and operational control on the part of the airline.
"DGCA has presented more robust measures to guarantee compliance by airlines with regulations, including increased monitoring weekly and fortnightly for critical operations, together with bi-monthly visits to the operator by DGCA's principal point-of-contact inspector, to closely monitor the airline's operations, with specific emphasis on roster integrity, crew accessibility, buffer adequacy, system robustness and adherence to FDTL requirements. The Flight Duty Time Limitations norms are executed by the DGCA.

In December 2025, IndiGo faced extensive operational disruptions, resulting in several flight cancellations and affecting many passengers. DGCA had also taken numerous regulatory actions against the airline.

The Minister of State for Civil Aviation said that a total of 550 Level II repetitive findings, operator- and organization-wise, were identified by the DGCA from 2023-25, and 29 enforcement actions were taken. As of December 31, 2025, no Level-I shortages are pending for closure.

A Level-I finding needs immediate attention and rectification and the closure timeline is 7 days, while a Level-II finding must be resolved within a month.
"Continued operations are not permitted with a level-I finding without its rectification. Rarely, operations are permitted under controlled/restricted environments. In violations, DGCA initiates enforcement action.
against the airline personnel, which might include a warning, suspension, or cancellation of approval, certificate, or license, or the imposition of a financial penalty.

Source: Economic Times