DGCA Air Regulations: Syllabus, Study Plan and Practice Questions
The law of the air. Mostly memory, and the paper many students clear first.
Quick answer
DGCA Air Regulations is one of five CPL theory papers. It covers the Aircraft Act 1934, the Aircraft Rules 1937, DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, the Chicago Convention and ICAO annexes, rules of the air, air traffic services, licensing and accident investigation. You need 70% to pass. It is mostly memory based, so many students take it first.
What is the DGCA Air Regulations paper?
Air Regulations tests the rules that govern flying in India and internationally. Questions are mostly direct recall.
It is also the paper licence holders converting from abroad must clear, so it matters on the conversion route too.
- It is one of the five DGCA CPL theory papers. You need 70% to pass.
- Papers are taken online through DGCA's PARIKSHA system, in sessions DGCA announces through the year.
- You can sit it only after you register on eGCA and get your DGCA computer number.
See how all five papers fit together in the DGCA exams for CPL guide.
DGCA Air Regulations syllabus by topic
The table groups the syllabus into the topics ground schools teach. Weightage changes between sessions, so cover every topic.
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Indian aviation law | Aircraft Act 1934, Aircraft Rules 1937, the role of DGCA, AAI and BCAS |
| Civil Aviation Requirements | DGCA CARs on licensing, operations, flight crew and airworthiness |
| International law | Chicago Convention 1944, ICAO and its annexes, freedoms of the air |
| Rules of the air | Right of way, lights, signals, VFR and IFR rules, minimum heights |
| Air traffic services | Airspace classes, ATC clearances, flight plans, transponder codes, radio failure procedures |
| Licensing | Student, private and commercial licences, ratings, validity and recency |
| Aerodromes | Markings, lights, signs, signals area |
| Safety and investigation | Search and rescue, accident and incident reporting, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau |
| Facilitation and security | Documents carried on board, dangerous goods basics, aviation security |
Source: DGCA CPL ground examination syllabus, as taught by DGCA approved ground schools. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Which parts of Air Regulations catch students out?
There is little calculation here, but the paper punishes vague memory:
- Look-alike numbers. Transponder codes, annex numbers and validity periods are easy to swap.
- Rules and amendments. CARs are revised, so old notes can teach outdated rules.
- Right of way. Questions combine aircraft categories and positions, so you must apply the order, not just recall it.
- Wording. Options often differ by one word, such as shall versus may.
How to prepare: a study plan for Air Regulations
Most students prepare alongside ground school. This plan assumes about two hours a day.
- Week 1: the Aircraft Act, the Aircraft Rules and who does what in Indian aviation.
- Week 2: the Chicago Convention and the ICAO annexes.
- Week 3: rules of the air, lights and signals.
- Week 4: air traffic services, airspace and flight plans.
- Week 5: licensing and the relevant CARs, checked against the current version on the DGCA site.
- Week 6: aerodromes, search and rescue, investigation, then timed practice papers.
Common study material students use:
- Your ground school notes and question banks
- Air Regulations by R.K. Bali, widely used in Indian ground schools
- The current Aircraft Rules 1937 and CARs from the DGCA site, to check every rule you memorise
Booking your training seat? Plan your loan
Find the loan that fits and what you pay each month, before you pay the school.
10 practice questions on Air Regulations
Try each question before reading the answer. These match the style of the DGCA multiple choice paper.
In which year was the Chicago Convention signed?
Options: 1919 / 1934 / 1944 / 1947
Answer: 1944. The Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed in Chicago in 1944 and created ICAO.
Which ICAO annex covers personnel licensing?
Options: Annex 1 / Annex 2 / Annex 6 / Annex 13
Answer: Annex 1. Annex 1 is Personnel Licensing.
Which ICAO annex sets the Rules of the Air?
Options: Annex 1 / Annex 2 / Annex 11 / Annex 14
Answer: Annex 2. Annex 2 is Rules of the Air.
Which ICAO annex deals with aircraft accident and incident investigation?
Options: Annex 6 / Annex 11 / Annex 13 / Annex 17
Answer: Annex 13. Annex 13 covers accident and incident investigation.
Which Act is the main aviation law in India?
Options: Aircraft Act 1934 / Air Corporations Act 1953 / Carriage by Air Act 1972 / Airports Authority of India Act 1994
Answer: Aircraft Act 1934. The Aircraft Act 1934 is the parent law. The Aircraft Rules 1937 are made under it.
Two aircraft converge at about the same level. Which one gives way?
Options: The one with the other on its left / The one with the other on its right / The faster one / The higher one
Answer: The one with the other on its right. The aircraft that has the other on its right gives way.
Two aircraft approach head on. What should each do?
Options: Climb / Descend / Turn left / Turn right
Answer: Turn right. Both alter heading to the right.
How does an overtaking aircraft pass the one ahead?
Options: Above it / Below it / By turning right / By turning left
Answer: By turning right. The overtaking aircraft keeps out of the way by altering heading to the right.
Which transponder code means a general emergency?
Options: 7500 / 7600 / 7700 / 2000
Answer: 7700. 7700 is emergency. 7600 is radio failure and 7500 is unlawful interference.
Which body investigates aircraft accidents in India?
Options: DGCA / AAI / AAIB / BCAS
Answer: AAIB. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau investigates accidents and serious incidents.
What this costs
The theory papers are a small part of the total. The flying is where most of the money goes.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Regulations paper, regular session | ₹2,500 per attempt |
| Air Regulations paper, on demand | ₹5,000 per attempt |
| All five CPL papers, regular session | ₹12,500 per attempt |
| Full CPL in India, all stages | ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh |
Source: DGCA PARIKSHA fee as listed in October 2026. Confirm on the DGCA portal before booking. CPL total from The Flying Engineer, updated 22 Oct 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Ground school fees vary by school and are often bundled into the CPL package. Ask each school for an itemised fee sheet before you pay.
The other DGCA CPL papers
How to pay for pilot training
Most families use an education loan. There are three ways to do it, and the right one depends on two things: whether you have property for collateral, and whether a sponsoring airline has given you an LOI.
| Government bankWith property as collateral | NBFC, with an airline LOINo property needed | NBFC, without an LOINo property needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | Around 9.5%, linked to the RBI repo rate. Around 8.5% if you pay simple interest during the course | Around 11% to 13%, based on income | |
| During training | Nothing to pay (full moratorium), or monthly simple interest for the lower rate | A fixed partial EMI each month | The full EMI on the amount paid out so far |
| After training | Full EMI starts | The same EMI continues | |
| How much is funded | 85% of the fees. You pay 15% yourself (the margin) | 100% of the fees, up to ₹1.5 crore | |
| Processing fee | 1%, refunded later apart from about ₹10,000 | About 1% | |
| Loan insurance | About 1% to 2.5% of the loan | About 2% to 8% of the loan | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | A minimum yearly income, set by the loan amount | Monthly income about ₹30,000 more than the EMI |
| Speed | Slow (weeks) | Faster | |
What is an LOI, and why does it matter?
An LOI (Letter of Intent) is a conditional pre-employment letter from a sponsoring airline. It promises you a future role with that airline once you finish training and meet its conditions.
Because a job is lined up, lenders see the loan as low risk. So they offer a partial EMI without collateral: a fixed amount each month during training, with the full EMI only after you finish. Without an LOI, the full EMI starts from the first payment to the school.
Not every government bank gives a full moratorium on pilot training loans, and government banks are usually slow because of property checks. If you need a fast sanction and an easier process, talk to the FundMyCampus team first.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what students and parents ask us about pilot training
Plan your pilot training loan
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will call you with the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
FundMyCampus is a loan facilitation platform. Loans are sanctioned by the lending bank or NBFC at its discretion. Rates are approximate and change with the RBI repo rate and your profile. We never promise approval or a rate.