Civil Aviation Safety Regulation and DGCA Framework

India's civil aviation safety architecture rests on the Aircraft Act, 1934 and the Aircraft Rules, 1937, with the DGCA as the primary regulator. DGCA converts ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) under the Chicago Convention, 1944 into enforceable domestic requirements through surveillance audits, show-cause notices, and grounding orders. Accident investigation is coordinated with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The practical tension is that DGCA holds both promotional and enforcement roles, which critics argue dilutes safety oversight. AERA governs airport economics; AAI administers airspace under a separate framework.