Pioneer in short
DGCA to tighten safety norms
Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday announced a slew of safety measures for non-scheduled flight operators, including public disclosure of aircraft maintenance history and a safety ranking mechanism, in the wake of recent plane crashes. A day after a plane, operated by a non-scheduled operator (NSOP), crashed in Jharkhand, killing seven people onboard, DGCA held a meeting with all such operators. The meeting was held to “address a recent surge in aviation incidents and emphasised the critical need for an increased focus on safety across the sector,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. Sending out a strong warning, the regulator said accountable managers and senior leadership of NSOPs would be held personally responsible for systemic non-compliances and stressed that “safety lapses cannot simply be blamed on pilots”. Apart from the requirement of public disclosure of critical safety information, including aircraft age and maintenance history, DGCA said there would be a safety ranking of the NSOPs.
UPSC extends CSE application deadline
The last date for submission of online application form for the civil services examination has been extended by three days to February 27, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) said on Tuesday. The decision comes amid reports of technical glitches experienced briefly by aspirants on the UPSC’s application portal, which were later resolved. “The last date for submission of online application form for the Civil Services Examination, 2026 and Indian Forest Service Examination, 2026 has now been extended by three days, ie till 27.02.2026 (up to 6 pm),” the commission said in a public notice. UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar said that a brief technical issue on Tuesday caused access difficulties for some candidates, and it has since been resolved. Candidates are required to submit their applications on https://upsconline.nic.in.
