Technocrat or bureaucrat: Who should head India's aviation regulator DGCA?

The government had diluted eligibility for the DG's post in 2007. Prior to this, the candidate required a minimum of 12 years of experience in aviation. The government brought it down to five years

Ahead of two crucial audits, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has proposed to allow Joint Director Generals (JDGs) and officers of Indian Air Force (IAF) to apply for the post of chief of India’s aviation regulator. The current head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Arun Kumar, has been promoted as secretary and is expected to move out some time soon.

DGCA has four Deputy DGs with experience in different fields of aviation. The proposed rules also allow senior IAF officials of the rank of air marshal and air vice marshal and a person with 15 years of