DGCA examinations
DGCA Exam Guide
Five papers, seventy per cent each, no aggregate. Everything below comes from the regulation or the portal.
Checked on 17 September 2026. Sources below.
Quick Answer
How many DGCA exams are there, and what is the pass mark?
5 written papers for a Commercial Pilot Licence: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General, Technical Specific. A candidate who secures a minimum of 70% marks in the theoretical knowledge examination of a particular subject is declared PASS. The 70% applies to each subject on its own. There is no aggregate, and a strong paper does not carry a weak one. RTR (A) is required for the licence but examined separately, so it is not a sixth paper.
The rules in five lines
- •5 papers for a CPL, 70% in each, and no aggregate to rescue a weak subject
- •₹2,500 per paper in a regular session, ₹5,000 on demand, paid to the Government of India
- •4 regular sessions a year, plus on-demand sessions
- •Papers expire: Theoretical knowledge papers must be completed within two and a half years immediately preceding the date of application — five years for a CPL or ATPL
- •RTR (A) is separate and clears on its own timetable
The papers
5 subjects are examined for a Commercial Pilot Licence. The list is set by Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 — not by any school, and not by the coaching market.
RTR (A) is required for the licence but examined separately, not as a sixth DGCA paper.
The pass mark, and why it has no aggregate
A candidate who secures a minimum of 70% marks in the theoretical knowledge examination of a particular subject is declared PASS. (para 5.6)
The 70% applies to each subject on its own. There is no aggregate, and a strong paper does not carry a weak one.
The practical consequence is that a paper is a self-contained project. Failing one costs you that paper and nothing else; clearing four brilliantly does not help with the fifth.
Papers expire — plan backwards
Theoretical knowledge papers must be completed within two and a half years immediately preceding the date of application.
For the issue of a CPL or an ATPL, that period is five years.
Clearing papers years before you finish your flying hours is not free. Count backwards from the licence application, not forwards from the first paper.
This is the single most expensive thing on this page to get wrong. A candidate who clears all five early and then takes a long time over the flying hours can find the first paper has lapsed by the time the licence application goes in. Diarise the expiry of your first pass, not just your next attempt.
What it costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Per paper, regular session | ₹2,500 |
| Per paper, on demand | ₹5,000 |
| Oral paper | ₹500 |
The oral paper fee applies to the second and third attempt only. The bank may add a nominal service charge or applicable taxes on top of the fee.
These are DGCA’s fees, paid to the government. They are entirely separate from what any ground school charges, and a coaching fee that claims to include them should say so in writing.
The 2026 sessions
| Session | Dates |
|---|---|
| Exam 01 | 10–14 March 2026 |
| Exam 02 | 16–20 June 2026 |
| Exam 03 | 22–26 September 2026 |
| Exam 04 | 15–19 December 2026 |
DGCA publishes these dates as tentative and subject to change for gazetted holidays, festivals and similar reasons. Confirm against the public notice on the Pariksha portal before planning travel.
The booking rules
- –A candidate may apply only once in a particular session.
- –Two choices of centre are filled as Option 1 and Option 2; the second is used if the first cannot be allotted.
- –In a given session a candidate is initially allowed only one specific-aircraft paper.
- –Complete the payment by 2300 hrs on the closing date. A payment made later, whose success reaches CEO from Bharatkosh after 2359 hrs on the closing date, may not be treated as valid.
- –Once the examination form is submitted successfully, no change is entertained and the fee is neither adjusted nor refunded — including where the application is rejected.
- –Payment is made only through the Government of India NTRP portal Bharatkosh, by net banking, credit card or debit card.
The oral examinations
The written papers are not the whole examination. Oral pass marks differ by licence, which surprises candidates who assume seventy per cent applies everywhere.
| Licence or rating | Pass mark | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| SPL — Student Pilot Licence | 50% | para 5.7(a) |
| GPL — Glider Pilot Licence | 50% | para 5.7(c) |
| ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence | 70% | para 5.7(d) |
| FIR and AFIR — Flying Instructor ratings | 70% | para 5.7(e) |
A candidate who fails the first ATPL oral examination may take two further chances, within two years of the date of that result. (para 5.7(d))
Why there is no topic list on this page
DGCA publishes the paper list for the CPL, and a detailed examination syllabus in its Civil Aviation Requirements. The CAR carrying the topic-by-topic CPL syllabus could not be retrieved from a government server, so this page does not reproduce one. Pages that print a detailed CPL topic list without naming the document it came from are working from memory.
People also ask
How many DGCA exams are there, and what is the pass mark?
5 written papers for a Commercial Pilot Licence: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General, Technical Specific. A candidate who secures a minimum of 70% marks in the theoretical knowledge examination of a particular subject is declared PASS. The 70% applies to each subject on its own. There is no aggregate, and a strong paper does not carry a weak one. RTR (A) is required for the licence but examined separately, so it is not a sixth paper.
What does the DGCA exam cost?
₹2,500 per paper in a regular session and ₹5,000 per paper on demand. The bank may add a nominal service charge or applicable taxes on top of the fee. Payment is made to the Government of India, not to a coaching institute.
When are the DGCA exams held in 2026?
Four regular sessions: 10–14 March 2026; 16–20 June 2026; 22–26 September 2026; 15–19 December 2026. DGCA publishes these dates as tentative and subject to change for gazetted holidays, festivals and similar reasons. Confirm against the public notice on the Pariksha portal before planning travel.
How long do cleared DGCA papers stay valid?
Theoretical knowledge papers must be completed within two and a half years immediately preceding the date of application. For the issue of a CPL or an ATPL, that period is five years. Clearing papers years before you finish your flying hours is not free. Count backwards from the licence application, not forwards from the first paper.
What happens if I fail a DGCA paper?
You retake that paper on its own. The 70% applies to each subject on its own. There is no aggregate, and a strong paper does not carry a weak one. There is no aggregate mark, so a strong paper cannot carry a weak one — and equally, a failed paper does not affect the ones you have already cleared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the DGCA written examinations?
A candidate who secures a minimum of 70% marks in the theoretical knowledge examination of a particular subject is declared PASS. (para 5.6) The 70% applies to each subject on its own. There is no aggregate, and a strong paper does not carry a weak one.
Which five subjects are examined?
Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General, Technical Specific. RTR (A) is required for the licence but examined separately, not as a sixth DGCA paper.
Is RTR part of the DGCA papers?
No. Examined separately from the DGCA written papers, and required for CPL issue under Section J paragraph 1(g). It is examined under the Radio Telephone Operator (Restricted) Certificate and Licence Rules, 2025.
Where do I register for the examination?
On the DGCA Pariksha portal, https://pariksha.dgca.gov.in. A unique identification number allotted to a candidate, used to identify that candidate through the DGCA online examination process. Lifetime — issued once and retained for the whole examination journey.
Is there a minimum or maximum age to register?
Minimum 16. No maximum age is prescribed.
Can I apply for more than one session at a time?
A candidate may apply only once in a particular session. In a given session a candidate is initially allowed only one specific-aircraft paper.
How many exam centres can I choose?
2. Two choices of centre are filled as Option 1 and Option 2; the second is used if the first cannot be allotted.
How is the fee paid?
Payment is made only through the Government of India NTRP portal Bharatkosh, by net banking, credit card or debit card. The bank may add a nominal service charge or applicable taxes on top of the fee.
What is the on-demand exam and why does it cost more?
It is an additional route to sitting a paper outside the four regular sessions, at ₹5,000 per paper against ₹2,500 in a regular session. The pass mark and the paper are the same; what you are paying for is the timing.
What is the pass mark for the oral examinations?
It varies by licence: SPL — Student Pilot Licence — 50%; GPL — Glider Pilot Licence — 50%; ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence — 70%; FIR and AFIR — Flying Instructor ratings — 70%.
Can I retake a failed ATPL oral?
A candidate who fails the first ATPL oral examination may take two further chances, within two years of the date of that result.
Where is the detailed syllabus for each paper?
DGCA publishes the paper list for the CPL, and a detailed examination syllabus in its Civil Aviation Requirements. The CAR carrying the topic-by-topic CPL syllabus could not be retrieved from a government server, so this page does not reproduce one. Pages that print a detailed CPL topic list without naming the document it came from are working from memory.
Do I need a medical certificate to sit the exams?
No. The computer number registration and the written examinations need no medical certificate and no flying school. The medical is required for the licence, not for the papers — which is why registering early costs nothing and waiting costs a session.
Does We One Aviation conduct the DGCA examination?
No. DGCA conducts it through its Central Examination Organisation. We teach the DGCA ground subjects and arrange flight training with partner flying schools. We do not own aircraft or simulators, we do not employ pilots, and we do not place students into airline jobs — hiring decisions rest with the operator.
Sources
- –Section 7 — Flight Crew Standards, Training and Licensing, Series 'B' Part I, Rev. 2 dated 13 February 2019 — Eligibility criteria for examinations for issue of crew licences
- –DGCA Pariksha — candidate registration and examination portal
- –Aircraft Rules, 1937, Schedule II — Aircraft Personnel (India Code)
DGCA Pariksha
The portal, in full
Computer number
Register before anything else
RTR (A)
The separate radio examination
Preparing for the papers?
We teach the DGCA ground subjects and arrange flight training with partner flying schools. We do not own aircraft or simulators, we do not employ pilots, and we do not place students into airline jobs — hiring decisions rest with the operator. The counselling is free and covers how to sequence the papers against the medical and the flying, so you are not waiting on one to start the other.