Pilot Eligibility in India
Age, subjects, marks, medical and English rules for a commercial pilot licence, plus the extra rules airline cadet programmes add.
Quick answer
To be eligible for pilot training in India you need 10+2 with Physics and Maths (commerce or arts students can add them through NIOS), DGCA medical fitness and English proficiency. Air India's cadet programme also asks for an age of 18 to 30 and 60% marks.
What are the basic requirements?
DGCA sets the minimum rules for a commercial pilot licence (CPL). They are simple to check.
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Education | 10+2 with Physics and Maths, or equivalent |
| Age | 17 to start training, 18 to hold a CPL |
| Medical | DGCA Class 2 first, then Class 1 |
| Language | English proficiency for radio and exams |
| Identity | Valid ID and a DGCA computer number through eGCA |
Source: DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 7. Confirm the current CAR before applying. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Can I become a pilot without PCM?
Physics and Maths at 10+2 are compulsory. Chemistry is not needed.
If you studied commerce or arts, you can still become a pilot.
- Register with NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling).
- Take Physics and Maths at senior secondary level.
- Pass both subjects and keep the NIOS mark sheet.
- Use it with your original 12th certificate for the computer number and admission.
Plan for a few months for NIOS. You can do your medicals in parallel.
What medical fitness do pilots need?
Medical fitness is the biggest single risk. Clear it before you pay any training fee or draw a loan.
- Class 2: done first, at a DGCA empanelled examiner
- Class 1: needed for a CPL, done at a DGCA aeromedical centre or an IAF board
Read the full guide to the DGCA Class 1 and Class 2 medical.
What extra rules do airline cadet programmes have?
Airlines add their own selection rules on top of DGCA's minimum. These are stricter.
| Programme | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme | Class 1 medical. Aptitude, simulator and interview selection. |
| Air India Cadet Pilot Programme | Indian citizen or OCI, 18 to 30 years, at least 60% in 10+2 and 60% each in English, Maths and Physics, DGCA Class 1 medical. |
| Akasa Air SkyCadet Programme | Freshers. Apply on Akasa's careers portal. |
Source: IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air programme pages and releases. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
See how they compare in cadet pilot programmes in India.
Is there an age limit for pilots?
Minimum age
You can join ground classes at 17. You must be 18 when the CPL is issued.
Upper age
DGCA has no strict upper age for a CPL. Cadet programmes do, for example 30 for Air India.
Starting later is possible but leaves fewer working years to repay a loan. Factor this into your plan.
Quick self-check before you apply
- Physics and Maths passed at 10+2 or through NIOS
- Age 17 or above
- Class 2 medical cleared
- Comfortable reading and speaking English
- A funding plan for ₹55 lakh or more
If all five are ticked, move on to the admission process and your DGCA computer number.
Eligible? Find your loan next
See whether a government bank or an NBFC fits your family's property, income and LOI.
Pilot without PCM: the NIOS route step by step
| Step | What to do | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register with NIOS for Physics and Maths at senior secondary level | During the admission window |
| 2 | Study and sit the NIOS exams | One exam cycle, about 6 months |
| 3 | Take the DGCA Class 2 medical in parallel | 2 to 4 weeks |
| 4 | Get the Board Verification Certificate for 10th, 12th and NIOS | A few weeks |
| 5 | Apply for the DGCA computer number on eGCA | A few weeks |
Source: NIOS and DGCA eGCA process. Check current NIOS dates. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Use the NIOS months well. Start reading for Air Regulations and Aviation Meteorology, which need little maths.
Pilot eligibility vs loan eligibility
Being eligible to train is only half the plan. The lender also checks your family.
- Student: admission or offer letter, medical, academic records
- Co-borrower: a parent or relative with steady income and a good credit history
- Property: non-agricultural, only for a government bank loan
For an NBFC loan with an LOI, the co-borrower usually needs at least ₹6 lakh a year. Without an LOI, monthly income should be about ₹30,000 more than the EMI. See pilot loan eligibility.
Common eligibility mistakes
- Assuming Chemistry is required. It is not.
- Joining a ground school before checking the medical
- Different spellings of your name across 10th, 12th and Aadhaar
- Missing a cadet programme's age cut-off by a few months
- Ignoring English. Weak English slows exams and radio work.
Documents that prove your eligibility
| Document | Proves | Needed for |
|---|---|---|
| 10th certificate | Date of birth and name | Computer number, admission, loan |
| 12th or NIOS mark sheet | Physics and Maths passed | Computer number, admission |
| Board Verification Certificate | Marks are genuine | Computer number |
| DGCA Class 2 medical | Basic medical fitness | Admission, loan file |
| Aadhaar and passport | Identity and nationality | All steps, and training abroad |
| English test score | Language level | Some cadet programmes and foreign schools |
Source: DGCA eGCA guidance and school admission forms. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Keep scanned copies in one folder. You will upload the same set to eGCA, the school and the lender.
Special cases students ask about
- Diploma after 10th: may count as equivalent if it includes Physics and Maths. Confirm with DGCA before applying.
- Gap years: no problem for DGCA. Cadet programmes may check age limits.
- Low marks in 12th: a pass is enough for a self-sponsored CPL. Cadet programmes may need 60%.
- OCI holders: eligible for the Air India cadet programme as per its published rules.
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.