Commerce, Arts Students Can Become Commercial Pilots In India Soon, DGCA May Open Training Courses – News18

Last Updated:April 18, 2025, 11:35 IST

The DGCA may soon allow Commerce and Arts students to pursue Commercial Pilot License training, previously limited to Science students.

Students from Arts and Commerce streams often have several career options after Class 12, but some fields—like aviation—have traditionally been out of reach. One such example is becoming a commercial pilot, which currently requires a background in Science. However, that may soon change.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering a major change in the eligibility criteria for Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training, as per Times of India report.  Until now, students needed to have studied Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 to enroll in CPL training. But the DGCA may soon allow students from Commerce and Arts backgrounds to pursue pilot training as well.

This move could open doors for many aspiring pilots who didn’t take Science in school but have long dreamed of flying. However, one requirement will remain unchanged: all candidates, regardless of their academic stream, must meet the same medical fitness standards set by the DGCA.

Why The Change Matters?

Pilot training is known to be rigorous and requires technical knowledge. Since the 1990s, Physics and Math were made compulsory in Class 12 for those aspiring to become pilots in India. This limited opportunities for students from other streams. Interestingly, before these rules were enforced, completing Class 10 was enough to begin CPL training.

According to a Times of India report, the DGCA is finalising this new proposal and will soon send it to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for approval. Once cleared, CPL training could officially become accessible to students from all streams.

It’s worth noting that in many countries, Physics and Maths are not mandatory for CPL training. The foundation built through lower grades is often considered sufficient for the technical concepts required during pilot training.