India's aviation sector is currently facing a significant challenge with widespread staff shortages across key agencies, potentially impacting safety and operational efficiency. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are all grappling with a substantial number of vacant positions.

Extent of the Shortages

• DGCA: The aviation regulator has a nearly 50% vacancy rate, with 823 unfilled positions out of 1,644 sanctioned posts. Almost half of the 1,063 technical posts within the DGCA are vacant. As of June 2025, 540 technical posts were vacant.
• BCAS: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is also facing a severe staffing crunch, with vacancy rates exceeding 30% for four consecutive years. As of June 30, 2025, out of a sanctioned strength of 598, only 371 positions were filled, leaving 227 posts vacant.
• AAI: The Airports Authority of India has a significant number of vacancies, with reports indicating over 3,238 positions unfilled. In April 2025, reports indicated 9,502 vacancies out of 25,730 sanctioned posts.

Reasons for Vacancies

The government attributes the vacancies to several factors, including:

• Inadequate responses to advertisements.
• Candidates not joining after selection.
• Insufficient personnel in feeder cadres.
• Slow recruitment procedures.
• Lack of budget.

Impact and Concerns

These staff shortages raise concerns about the ability of these agencies to effectively perform their duties.

• Safety Oversight: A parliamentary committee expressed "fundamental concerns" about DGCA's capacity to enforce aviation safety standards effectively with such a high vacancy rate.
• Security Oversight: Similarly, concerns have been raised about the "robustness of security oversight at airports" due to the vacancies in BCAS.
• Operational Efficiency: The AAI's vacancies could potentially impact operational efficiency and airport expansion. Existing personnel are burdened with critical security tasks.
• Increased Workload: Staff shortages burden existing personnel with critical security tasks. Routine inspections, emergency preparedness, surprise checks, and inter-agency coordination are all under strain, placing immense pressure on existing staff.

Government Response and Recruitment Efforts

The government maintains that the organizational functioning of these agencies remains unimpacted despite the shortfalls. Recent efforts to address the situation include:

• Creating new positions within the agencies. Between 2022 and 2024, 441 new technical positions were created at DGCA. 84 operational posts were created during the restructuring of BCAS in 2024. 840 Air Traffic Controller posts were created at AAI.
• Filling positions through recruitment drives. In 2025, 14 posts at DGCA and 864 positions at AAI were filled. 5 posts at BCAS were filled on deputation basis. The Minister for Civil Aviation stated that 190 appointments would be made to the DGCA within the year.
• Utilizing contractual hiring. DGCA has hired consultants, Young Professionals, and Flight Operations Inspectors on a contract basis. BCAS has also hired consultants to address manpower shortages.

The Way Forward

Addressing the staff shortages in these key aviation agencies is crucial for maintaining safety, security, and efficiency in the rapidly growing Indian aviation sector. The government is pursuing various recruitment methods, including short-term contractual hiring, to bridge the gap. Continuous monitoring, strategic planning, and efficient recruitment processes are essential to ensure that these vital organizations have the necessary manpower to meet the demands of the expanding aviation industry.