New Delhi, India – According to media reports the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will take over the administration of the Radio Telephony Restricted (Aeronautical) or RTR(A) examination from November 2025, marking a major regulatory reform in India’s pilot licensing framework.

• The RTR(A) exam, a mandatory qualification for both Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Private Pilot Licence (PPL) holders in India, was previously conducted by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Ministry of Communications.

• Under the new policy, DGCA will conduct and regulate the exam, aligning it with the broader theoretical and practical components of pilot licensing already under its purview.

• The change was approved in 2023 but delayed due to procedural and system integration requirements. Full implementation is now confirmed for November 2025.

• DGCA is expected to release detailed schedules and updated exam guidelines in the coming weeks.

Expected Benefits:

• Unified Oversight: Consolidates the licensing process under DGCA, improving interdepartmental coordination for student pilots.

• Increased Frequency: DGCA is expected to conduct the exams more regularly, reducing historic backlogs under WPC.

• Improved Relevance: Evaluations will be tailored to aviation-specific use cases, particularly ATC communication protocols.

• Transparency and Standardisation: DGCA’s digital exam infrastructure is anticipated to provide a more consistent and equitable assessment process.

This change is particularly significant for India’s CPL candidates, where RTR(A) delays have previously held up licence issuance, even after flight hours and DGCA exams were completed. Flight schools and instructors have long advocated for this reform.

Source: Media Reporting