Capt. Shehzad Ahamed Says The Move Could Make Aviation More Inclusive And Ease India’s Pilot Shortage.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is actively considering removing a long-standing eligibility requirement for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training.
Currently, students must have completed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics to qualify for pilot training.
However, this rule may soon be scrapped, opening doors for students from arts and commerce streams to pursue careers in aviation.
This reform, if implemented, would mark the end of a decades-old restriction that has kept many passionate and capable candidates from realising their dream of becoming pilots.
Sources familiar with the development say that once the proposal is finalised, it will be sent to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for final approval.
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Since the mid-1990s, only science stream students with physics and math have been allowed to enrol in CPL training programs in India.
Before that, the requirement was as minimal as passing the 10th standard. Over the years, the education criteria became stricter, even though, as many experts argue, a commercial pilot’s actual job doesn’t rely heavily on high-level academic concepts from these two subjects.
“Physics and math at the Class 12 level aren’t essential for flying an aircraft,” Capt. Shehzad Ahamed, First Officer, Aviation Edupreneur, and Pilot Mentor, told Timeline.
“Pilots already understand the basics of these subjects through earlier schooling and flight training. This archaic rule has only created unnecessary barriers.”
He further explained that many students from non-science backgrounds, eager to become pilots, have had to take open courses in these subjects just to meet the eligibility criteria.
“Removing this requirement will benefit thousands of students from across academic streams and could significantly boost the domestic aviation industry’s talent pool,” he said.
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“This reform is not just about changing eligibility. It’s about removing unnecessary obstacles and making aviation more inclusive. We’re facing a pilot shortage, and this step could make it better, along with other changes that may implemented soon,” Capt. Shehzad stated.
“While the proposal is still under consideration and has not yet been officially implemented, there is growing optimism in the aviation community. If the Union Aviation Ministry approves the reform, any Class 12 pass-out who meets the medical fitness requirements, regardless of their academic stream, could soon be eligible to begin CPL training in India,” he added.
