The crash of the London-bound Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad has brought renewed focus on aviation safety and regulatory oversight. A parliamentary standing committee in its March 2025 report had raised similar concerns. The panel, in its review of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s demands for grants, flagged serious concerns about skewed fund allocation, understaffing, and modest investment in security and accident investigation infrastructure.
The report highlights that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) receives nearly half of the capital budget allocation – ₹30 crore out of ₹70 crore - raising concerns over the prioritisation of regulatory functions over critical safety and investigative capacities. In contrast, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) receive ₹15 crore and ₹ 20 crore respectively.
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“The discrepancy in funding raises important questions about the prioritisation of regulatory compliance over security infrastructure and accident investigation capabilities,” the committee noted, recommending a more balanced allocation across all key aviation bodies.
Staff shortage was another red flag highlighted by the committee report. The committee also took note of the significant staff shortages plaguing aviation oversight agencies. The DGCA is operating with over 53 percent of its sanctioned posts vacant, severely limiting its ability to enforce aviation safety norms. The BCAS has a vacancy rate of nearly 35 percent, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has over 3,200 vacancies, 17 percent of its sanctioned strength raising, concerns over operational efficiency and airport expansion.
“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 warned.
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The crash also draws attention to the government’s UDAN scheme, which aims to connect 120 new destinations and enable 4 crore air travellers in the next decade. The budget for the scheme, however, has been slashed by 32 percent to ₹540 crore this year, despite its expanded scope to include tier II and III cities and remote regions.
The committee flagged this cut as inconsistent with the scheme’s goals citing enhanced security protocols and accident response mechanisms needed in proportion with aviation infrastructure.
Since 2014, the number of airports in India has nearly doubled—from 74 to 147—with a target of 220 by 2025. The panel stressed that this growth must be matched with a proportional increase in aviation safety and accident investigation infrastructure.
The Parliamentary Committee’s recommendations take on fresh urgency, reinforcing the need for systemic improvements in funding, staffing, and safety preparedness in the wake of the horrific air accident.
