Union Minister Rammohan Naidu Unveils Electronic Personnel License for Pilots.
National
In February 2025, Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), launched the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots, a digital version of the traditional personnel license, replacing physical licenses. This initiative aims to modernize and enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of India's civil aviation sector.
- With this launch, India became the second country globally, after China, to implement EPL, following approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations (UN) agency in Montreal, Canada.
- Pilot Ishita Bhargava, a 22-year-old woman from Jabalpur, became the first pilot in India to receive the Electronic Personnel License (EPL).
- EPL will be securely accessible through the electronic-Governance of Civil Aviation (eGCA) Mobile Application. This initiative aligns with the Government of India's (GOI) "Ease of Doing Business" (EoDB) and "Digital India Initiatives" (DII).
Main Point :- (i) The launch of EPL follows ICAO's Amendment 178 to Annex 1 Personnel Licensing, which encourages Member States to adopt electronic licenses.
(ii) EPL will phase out printed cards, reducing paper and plastic usage, contributing to environmental sustainability. It provides real-time access to credentials, enhancing global job opportunities for Indian pilots.
(iii) The DGCA had previously issued 62,000 smart card licenses, with the requirement for printed cards in 2024 standing at approximately 20,000.
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