New Delhi, July 21: India has issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPL) in the first six months of 2026. Notably, over 40% of these newly licensed pilots received their training abroad.
In a written response in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murleedhar Mohol, revealed that as of June 30, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had granted licenses to 791 cadets trained in Indian flying training organizations and 540 who trained overseas.
This data highlights a significant trend, as Indian airlines expand their fleets and networks, leading to a soaring demand for pilots.
According to the minister, the DGCA issued 1,165 licenses in 2022, 1,622 in 2023, and 1,347 in 2024, with the number rising to 1,652 in 2025. This consistent increase indicates a growing trend in pilot certification over recent years.
Currently, there are 41 DGCA-approved flying training organizations operating across 63 bases in India, equipped with over 400 training aircraft.
Under DGCA regulations, flying training organizations must maintain a ratio of one aircraft instructor for every ten students. This ensures that approximately 3,500 students can receive training at any given time within the current training system.
The minister also stated that the government has taken several steps to strengthen the country’s pilot training system. These include streamlining the approval and monitoring process for flying training organizations and amending training regulations to enhance capacity and operational efficiency.
This recent data comes amid a remarkable surge in India’s aviation sector. Domestic airlines are placing large aircraft orders and expanding operations, creating a need for thousands more pilots in the coming years.
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