India launches Electronic Personnel Licence for pilots, becoming the second country to do so
Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu launched the Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) for pilots on 20 February 2025, making India the second country to implement it.
Summary
On 20 February 2025 Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu launched the Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) for pilots, a digital version of the licence accessible through the eGCA mobile app, making India the second country in the world to implement the system after approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The move follows ICAO's Amendment 178 to Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing), which encourages member states to adopt electronic licences. The DGCA had issued 62,000 smart-card licences till then, about 20,000 of them in 2024, and printed cards will be phased out. The Minister said India would need about 20,000 pilots in the near future.
Key facts
- Date
- 20 February 2025
- Launched by
- Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu
- Rank
- India second country to implement EPL
- Basis
- ICAO Amendment 178 to Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing)
- Card licences issued so far
- 62,000 (about 20,000 in 2024)
- Pilot need
- About 20,000 in the near future
Practice MCQs 2 questions
With the launch of the Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) for pilots on 20 February 2025, India became which country in the world to implement it?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Second
The Civil Aviation Ministry said India became the second country globally to implement the EPL system.
India's Electronic Personnel Licence for pilots follows ICAO's Amendment 178 to which Annex of the Chicago Convention?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Annex 1 - Personnel Licensing
The EPL follows ICAO's Amendment 178 to Annex 1, Personnel Licensing, which encourages member states to adopt electronic licences.