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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Weeks before Air India crash, Parliament panel flagged funding shortfall
A report tabled by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture on March 25 had flagged 'a distinct imbalance in the allocation of funds across key aviation bodies'. The crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12 has now thrust those warnings back into the public eye. In the 2025–26 Budget Estimate, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was allocated ₹30 crore — nearly half of the ₹65 crore total budget set aside for aviation regulatory and safety bodies. In contrast, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), responsible for probing air crashes, received ₹20 crore, while the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which oversees airport security, was allotted only ₹15 crore. The parliamentary panel expressed concern over this disproportionate distribution. It recommended a reassessment of the DGCA's large share to ensure greater efficiency and accountability, especially as the AAIB and BCAS are critical to handling emergencies and securing the country's expanding aviation infrastructure. Is India's airport growth outpacing its aviation safety budget? Since 2014, India's operational airports have doubled from 74 to 147, with a target of 220 by 2025–26. The panel cautioned that expanding services to Tier-II and Tier-III cities under the Udan scheme must be matched by proportional increases in funding for security and accident investigation. 'It is imperative to assess whether these funds are adequate to strengthen security infrastructure and enhance investigative capabilities. As aviation expands to Tier-II and Tier-III cities under the modified Udan scheme, security infrastructure and capabilities must be extended proportionally,' the report stated. How is understaffing affecting DGCA, BCAS, and AAI performance? The report also highlighted chronic vacancies across key aviation agencies: 53 per cent of sanctioned posts lie vacant in the DGCA, 35 per cent in BCAS, and 17 per cent in the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Committee members warned that understaffing could undermine safety reforms, even if budgets were increased. 'The committee is deeply concerned that chronic understaffing in these institutions could undermine safety, security, and service delivery standards, particularly as air traffic volumes continue to rise. The committee urges the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expedite the recruitment process to fill vacancies across DGCA, BCAS, and AAI, ensuring that regulatory oversight, security enforcement, and airport operations are not compromised,' the report said. What happened during the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad? Flight AI-171, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into the campus of BJ Medical College minutes after take-off, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew, as well as 24 people on the ground. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders; a preliminary report from the AAIB is awaited. Tata Group, owner of Air India, has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim's family. Will Parliament boost aviation safety budgets after the Air India crash? Parliamentarians are expected to revisit the committee's recommendations during the upcoming monsoon session. Whether the tragic lessons from Ahmedabad will translate into bigger budgets and faster hiring for AAIB and BCAS will be watched closely by India's aviation industry — now the world's third-largest.
News18
14 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Months Before Air India Crash, Parliamentary Report Flagged Safety Risks, Funding Imbalances
Last Updated: A March 2025 parliamentary report flagged a major imbalance in aviation budget allocations. It also raised concerns over chronic vacancies in key aviation regulatory agencies. The Air India plane crash on June 12 has brought a parliamentary standing committee report from March back in focus, because it flagged a 'discrepancy in funding", thus raising questions on the prioritisation of regulatory compliance over security infrastructure and accident investigation capabilities. According to multiple media reports, the report also questioned the high number of vacancies across key aviation regulatory and operational bodies, particularly in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The committee flagged that the 2025-26 allocation of funds across key aviation bodies is skewed, with the DGCA commanding the largest share of the budget in comparison to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). 'The Committee observes that the Capital Outlay for BE [budgetary estimate] 2025-26 has a distinct imbalance in the allocation of funds across key aviation bodies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), entrusted with regulatory oversight, commands the largest share of Rs 30 crore-nearly half of the total budget," the report said. 'While its role in ensuring compliance with aviation standards is indisputable, the justification for such a significant allocation must be carefully examined to ensure efficiency and accountability. The discrepancy in funding raises important questions about the prioritisation of regulatory compliance over security infrastructure and accident investigation capabilities," it stated. The committee said that in comparison to the Rs 30 crores allotted to the DGCA, the BCAS and the AAIB together receive a far more 'modest" allocation in view of 'growing complexity of aviation security threats and the critical nature of accident investigations". 'In contrast, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) receive Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore, respectively. While regulatory compliance remains essential, the rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure, with airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 147 in 2022 and a target of 220 by 2024-2025, necessitates proportional growth in security capabilities and accident investigation resources." 'In view of the growing complexity of aviation security threats and the critical nature of accident investigations, the Committee finds these allocations relatively modest," the report mentioned. Further, the committee recommended 'regular performance evaluations of DGCA and BCAS funding to ensure that these resources translate into tangible improvements in aviation safety, regulatory efficiency, and security preparedness". Also highlighting the high number of vacancies across key aviation regulatory and operational bodies, the Committee stated it was deeply concerned that chronic understaffing in these institutions could undermine safety, security, and service delivery standards, particularly as air traffic volumes continue to rise. GOVT SETS UP NEW PANEL TO PROBE AHMEDABAD PLANE CRASH On June 14, two days after the horrific Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the government set up a high-level panel to investigate the causes of the Ahmedabad plane crash and the investigation is progressing smoothly. 'Decoding the black box is going to give in-depth insight into what happened moments before the plane crash," Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said at a briefing in the national capital. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said the investigation is going on smoothly. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash. He said that the aircraft took off at 1.39 pm and within a few seconds, after reaching a height of about 650 feet, it started sinking. At 1.39 pm, the pilot informed Ahmedabad ATC that it was a May Day– full emergency." According to ATC, Sinha said, when it tried to contact Air India aircraft the ATC did not receive any response. Exactly one minute later, the plane crashed in Meghaninagar, about 2 km from the airport. According to him, the aircraft started losing its height after reaching 650 feet. Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, operating a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed soon after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. Out of the 242 people on board the plane, only one person survived. Before the accident, the aircraft had operated the Paris-Delhi-Ahmedabad route and had completed its flight successfully, the civil aviation secretary said. ALSO READ | Air India To Cut International Services Amid Ongoing Safety Checks On Boeing 787 Fleet About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
India Today
15 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Weeks before Air India crash, parliament panel flagged aviation security funding
The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has brought into focus a Parliament committee report presented in March that flagged discrepancies in funding for accident investigations and aviation India being the third-largest aviation market globally, the report said budgetary allocation of Rs 35 crore for security infrastructure and accident investigation capabilities was insufficient. advertisementREPORT RAISED POOR FUNDING TO AAIB, BCASThe Department-related Parliament Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture's report, presented in the Rajya Sabha on March 25, 2025, raised disproportionate budget allocations to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). According to the report, while the DGCA was allocated Rs 30 crore for the financial year 2025-26, AAIB and BCAS received only Rs 20 crore and Rs 15 crore AAIB is probing the Ahmedabad incident, where a London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into the campus of a medical college and burst into but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the flight (AI 171) and another 29 people, including five MBBS students, on the ground were committee observed that in view of a multifold increase in airports in India, and passenger surge, more funds need to be allocated to the AAIB and BCAS."The capital outlay for BE 2025-26 has a distinct imbalance in the allocation of funds across key aviation bodies," the report report said the allocation to the DGCA, which commands the largest share of Rs 30 crore - nearly half of the total budget - must be carefully examined to ensure "efficiency and accountability". The DGCA is entrusted with regulatory oversight and ensures compliance of airlines with aviation report stated that while regulatory compliance remains essential, the rapid expansion of infrastructure - with airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 147 in 2022 and a target of 220 by 2024-255 - necessitates proportional growth in security capabilities and accident investigation resources."It is imperative to assess whether these funds are adequate to strengthen security infrastructure and enhance investigative capabilities. As aviation expands to Tier Il and III cities under the modified UDAN scheme, security infrastructure and capabilities must be extended proportionally," the report further BODIES UNDERSTAFFEDThe panel also raised serious concerns over the limited manpower in the DGCA, BCAS, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).As per the 375th report on Demands for Grants (2025–26) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, more than 53% of positions are vacant in the DGCA, 35% in the BCAS, and 17% in the AAI, which manages airport InMust Watch
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
'Chronic' safety staff shortage: Parliamentary panel flagged before Air India crash
Nearly three months before the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, a parliamentary panel flagged 'chronic' understaffing in government bodies responsible for aviation safety and regulatory oversight in a March 2025 report, the standing committee on transport, tourism, and culture said over 53 per cent of posts were lying vacant in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the agency responsible for the safety of every flight that takes off or lands in the widespread, understaffing only begins to disrupt operations when critical roles are left committee expressed 'serious concerns' over a 'chronic' understaffing across key aviation regulatory and operational bodies, particularly in the DGCA, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 'The committee is deeply concerned that chronic understaffing in these institutions could undermine safety, security, and service delivery standards, particularly as air traffic volumes continue to rise,' the report produced in the 375th Report on Demands for Grants (2025–26) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation reveals a gross staff shortage: more than 53% of positions are vacant in the DGCA, which oversees aviation safety; 35% in the BCAS, responsible for airport security; and 17% in the AAI, which manages airport infrastructure. Over 53% of DGCA (aviation safety), 35% of BCAS (airport security), and 17% of AAI (airport infrastructure) positions are vacant. advertisementTo understand the extent of the staffing crisis, India Today's OSINT team further looked into year-wise data from the Sansad records over the last five years. In a written response in April 2025, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, provided a year-wise breakdown of sanctioned strength, occupied positions, and vacancies across key aviation bodies. Vacancies in AAI increased to 9502 in 2025 from 8804 in 2024. As of March 31 this year, the AAI reported 9,502 vacant positions or nearly one-third of 25,730 sanctioned posts. The AAI is solely responsible for the development and maintenance of airport infrastructure, as well as Air Traffic Management (ATM) services. Data showed 8,804 vacancies in 2023, 9,057 in 2022, and 11,309 in 2021. At least 814 positions vacant in DGCA as of March, 2025 The most alarming trend, as highlighted by the standing committee report, relates to the DGCA. With over 53% of its positions vacant, the parliamentary standing committee report raises 'fundamental concerns about its capacity to enforce aviation safety standards effectively.'advertisementA serving commercial pilot told India Today, "The DGCA has two bodies overseeing safety - the flying staff and ground engineers, with each undergoing mandatory training every six months'.The report also flags underutilisation of funds by the DGCA, which spent Rs 205.6 crore out of the revised allocation of Rs 278 crore as of January isn't a one-off issue. Over the past five years, even as air passenger traffic has tripled and fleet size has almost doubled, the number of personnel in aviation safety has increased by barely 100. Year-on-year data reveals a slight increase in the number of vacancies at the DGCA in 2025. Year-on-year data shows a rise in vacant positions at BCAS, increasing from 187 in 2024 to 224 in 2025. A similar pattern is seen in the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which is responsible for maintaining aviation security. Nearly 35% of its sanctioned posts remain unfilled, raising concerns about the effectiveness and robustness of security oversight at Indian data shows a rise in vacant positions at BCAS, increasing from 187 in 2024 to 224 in per the civil aviation ministry, the Indian aviation sector received 999 hoax bomb threats in 2024, nearly 10 times higher than the previous year's InMust Watch
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Chronic' understaffing in DGCA, BCAS, AAI aviation bodies: Parliament panel report as Air India crash probe continues
Air India Plane Crash: The probe into Boeing 787-8, operating as Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 killing 241 onboard, is underway. The investigators have found the second black box, and the official reason so far remains known. Three months prior to the tragedy, a parliamentary panel report flagged 'chronic' staff shortage in aviation institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Airport Authority of India (AAI). It highlighted their ability to implement safety, security and operational standards. The report was presented in Rajya Sabha and laid on the table of Lok Sabha on 25 March, 2025. A senior JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha headed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The DGCA is responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel by overseeing aircraft certification, pilot and crew licensing, airline operations, flight school approvals, and enforcing aviation rules in line with international standards. The DGCA has a vacancy rate surpassing 53 percent, 'raising fundamental concerns about its capacity to enforce aviation safety standards effectively'. It has a sanctioned strength of 1633 personnel, out of which 754 are in position and 879 are vacant. The regulatory authority is responsible for laying down and enforcing aviation security standards at all civil airports and airports served by scheduled airlines in India. The BCAS ensures security against unlawful interference such as hijacking, sabotage, and terrorism. The BCAS had approximately 35 percent of its sanctioned posts unfilled, 'posing risks to the robustness of security oversight at airports'. It had a sanctioned strength of 598 personnel, of which 390 were in position, while 208 remained vacant. Following it, BCAS issued an advertisement for 98 vacancies on April 3. The AAI is a government agency under the Ministry of Civil Aviation responsible for developing, operating, and maintaining civil airports across India and provides air navigation services, including air traffic control, to ensure safe and efficient aircraft movement in Indian airspace. AAI plays a key role in expanding airport infrastructure and promoting regional connectivity. Parliament panel report It saw more than 3,200 vacancies, approximately 17 percent of its sanctioned strength, 'potentially impacting operational efficiency and airport expansion'. AAI had sanctioned strength of 19269 personnel, of which 16004 are filled, while 3265 vacant. Later, on April 4, it issued an advertisement for 309 posts for Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control). "The Committee is deeply concerned that chronic understaffing in these institutions could undermine safety, security, and service delivery standards, particularly as air traffic volumes continue to rise. The Committee urges the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expedite the recruitment process to fill vacancies across DGCA, BCAS, and AAI, ensuring that regulatory oversight, security enforcement, and airport operations are not compromised," the panel report had said. It added, 'Given the rapid expansion of air traffic and aviation infrastructure, the Ministry must adopt a long-term workforce planning strategy to ensure staffing levels remain to meet operational demands.' Livemint tried reaching out to MP Jha but calls and messages went unanswered. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also flagged the shortage of staff in the DGCA. 'The Modi government's negligence in not giving priority to safety in the aviation sector is worrying. It is evident from media reports that there is a huge shortage of officers and personnel in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI),' he said in a post on X. 'How will safe flights be ensured when key departments dealing with aviation safety, inspection, regulation and operations are working at less than half their staff? We are waiting for the investigation report on the air crash in Ahmedabad, but the lack of action despite the parliamentary committee report is a serious matter. We demand the government to clarify the situation and take necessary steps on this,' he asked.
