DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai transferred
Three months after large-scale flight cancellations by IndiGo disrupted air travel across the country, the chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been transferred. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Vir Vikram Yadav, replacing Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.
Yadav, an Odisha cadre IAS officer who replaces Kidwai at DGCA, is his batchmate and is currently serving as additional secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Kidwai, a 1996 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), according to an order by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
“Shri Vir Vikram Yadav, IAS (OR:96), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change as Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India by keeping the Recruitment Rules of the post in abeyance vice Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, IAS (MP:96) upon his appointment as Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions,” the order read. With this appointment, he will now head India’s aviation regulator at a time when the sector is witnessing rapid expansion, increasing air traffic and ongoing safety oversight reforms.
The reshuffle comes at a crucial time for the aviation sector, with the DGCA closely monitoring airline safety, fleet expansion, airport infrastructure readiness and regulatory compliance amid strong growth in domestic and international air travel. The DGCA is responsible for regulating civil aviation in India, including air safety, licensing, airworthiness, and operational standards, making the position one of the most important regulatory roles in the country’s aviation sector.
Tuesday’s appointments were part of a wider bureaucratic reshuffle approved by ACC. The order also included appointments at the joint and additional secretary level across ministries, including postings in civil aviation, finance, commerce and agriculture.
DGCA, the aviation safety regulator, has been in the spotlight in recent times, due to various developments, including the massive operational disruptions at IndiGo in December 2025.
Besides, there have been multiple instances of lapses at airlines, accidents involving aircraft operated by non-scheduled operators and the fatal crash of an Air India plane in June last year.
The watchdog has taken actions against erring airlines as well as their officials, including the penalty and other measures against IndiGo for the 2025 December disruptions. Steps have also been taken to enhance safety requirements for flying VIPs and VVIPs.
In the wake of the West Asia war, DGCA is keeping a close watch on airline operations as there are significant disruptions due to airspace curbs in the region, as well as other operational challenges and rising fuel prices.
On the other hand, the watchdog has taken certain passenger-friendly measures. Carriers are set to offer at least 60 per cent of seats in a flight without levying any additional charge from April 20, as well as maintain a transparent seat allocation policy. Airlines have opposed the revised policy, citing revenue loss concerns.
Under revised DGCA norms, effective from March 26, passengers can cancel or change air tickets without paying an additional charge within hours of making the bookings, subject to certain conditions. The option would not be available for domestic flight bookings where the departure date is less than 7 days, and in the case of international bookings, the departure date should be not less than 15 days.
