Learn All About How To Become A Pilot In India [2025 Updated]

Have you ever dreamed of soaring through the sky, trying to touch the clouds, and maybe flying across the sea in search of treasures? Well, maybe the treasure part can be hardly achieved, but if your goal is to fly, then you are in the right place. That is the signature trait of so-called Pilots, and thanks to the Indian government, becoming one is much easier than before.

This article will guide you through all the typical queries, like how to become a pilot and the requirements to become a pilot, including the entire qualification process for it. This is your one-way stop for everything Pilot-related. So without any further ado, let’s see what you will need to achieve such a dream in 2025.

How To Become A Pilot In India?

Thanks to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India, or DGCA for short, the recruitment process has been completely streamlined, making the admission process into cadet programs smoother than ever. But, before moving on, remember that becoming a pilot is an expensive dream! Most trainees are expected to pay a hefty sum of up to 40 lakhs during their stay. So, make sure to take career counselling before anything else. A counselor will guide you through your goal and give you all the heads-up you need, or we can say the requirements to become a pilot in India.

The Basic Requirements To Become A Pilot In India

After the career counselling, you will have a perfect idea of what you should be aiming for next. So let’s discuss all possible requirements to become a pilot one by one:

1. High School Education or 10th Class

Thankfully, the starting educational requirements are not as high as the fees. All you need is 60% marks in your 10th, and you are good to go. It will allow you to enroll in a Student Pilot License or SPL program. It also requires a basic understanding of English and a Class 2 medical certificate. Some exceptional candidates can immediately take on the private license program, but for the rest, SPL is the mandatory prerequisite before attempting advanced licensing in pilots.

There is also a big concern regarding which stream is best for pilots among students. The perfect answer for that would be, None. It doesn’t matter whether you had commerce or science in your college. Ultimately, both of them have nothing to do with the path to becoming a pilot. So take your time, study for at least 10+2, and decide later on which career you want to achieve. Career counselling will always be there for you in your search for how to be a pilot in India.

2. 10+2 Certificate

The 10th certificate may be enough for SPL, but it is not enough for other advanced licensing such as Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or Private Pilot License (PPL). That’s why to clear those, you will need at least a 10+2 certificate. Imagine SPL as a diploma course, PPL as an undergraduate, and CPL as a postgraduate. You can find more information about all three licensing types later on in the blog.

3. DGCA Class II Certificate

After your basic education is done, start prepping for the rigorous medical exam. The process of getting a Class 2 certificate is kind of similar to a driver's license. There is no written exam, so don’t worry about cracking some crazy syllabus. In fact, this part will be much easier and quicker than the first two. So, here’s what you need to do to acquire a DGCA Class II certificate in India:

1. Log in to the eGCA Portal.
   1. New users have to sign up with their ID proof, Aadhaar card, photo, signature, and permanent address proof and verify your email and mobile number for login.
   2. You will get your eGCA ID and Remote Pilot ID.
   3. A Remote Pilot ID is necessary for enrolling in Drone Pilot Programs.
2. Locate your closest DGCA-approved examiner from this list.
   1. You can book an appointment via email or call.
   2. We will always recommend contacting your examiner via call. Emails can be missed and usually placed lower on the priority list.
3. If your examiner is closer to your location, visit directly.
4. Take your test.
   1. The examiner may conduct the test by themselves.
   2. But if he refers you to a diagnostic center, make sure to pick a NABL or NABH-approved center.
   3. Female candidates will be asked to take additional tests; it is common.
   4. Also, make sure to carry the necessary documents used in the portal for logging in.
5. Submit the medical report to the examiner if it was taken by a third party.
6. The examiner will contact you within 2 weeks about the results.
7. If you pass, you can download the certificate from the eGCA portal.
   1. In some cases, you may get your certificate via post, or you can collect it directly from the examiner or DGCA Medical Cell in Delhi.
   2. In case you fail, you will get a detailed report about the cause.

4. DGCA Class I Certificate

The process of getting the Class I certificate is pretty much the same. The only difference would be the severity of the exam and, of course, the fees charged by the examiner or the diagnostic center. Just follow the above steps and pick a Class I examiner from the list instead of Class II, and you are good to go.

Various Ways To Become A Pilot In India

Once you have your designated certificates, it’s time for some serious studying. There are both private and government academies where you can directly enroll to acquire one of three main licenses. The private way will always cost extra, and it can go up to as high as 50 lakh, while the government way isn’t cheap either. So, we will recommend aiming for this:

PILOT Scholarship Common Entrance Test (PSCET)

The scholarships are the best way to enroll in your dream flying institute while not worrying about the massive fee structures. This is a full merit-based scholarship that uses All India Ranking (AIR) to determine who makes the cut. Here’s the cutoff list for PSCET in 2025:

Direct Enrollment

There is always a way to enroll directly without being the best in the nation. Institutes like Air India offer direct enrollment through traditional entrance exams, interviews, and aptitude tests. Some are also directly offered an internship based on their result, making the direct enrollment process a better choice for those candidates who are not worried about the hefty sums.

Brief Introduction Of Piloting Licenses In India

India has three licenses as of now. These are ranked based, so to apply for a higher one, you must clear the previous license and acquire it first. Think of it as a core part of the requirements to become a pilot, and there is no escaping it. So, here’s a quick highlight:

1. Student Pilot License (SPL)
   1. Age: 16+
   2. Education: 10th class
   3. DGCA Certificate: Class II
   4. Average Duration: one week
   5. Average Annual Fee (AAF): 2 lakh
   6. Additional Requirements:
      1. Passing of basic oral exam.
      2. Basic knowledge of English.
2. Private Pilot License (PPL)
   1. Age: 17+
   2. Education: 10th class (Some may ask for 10+2.)
   3. DGCA Certificate: Class II
   4. Average Duration: 8 months
   5. Average Annual Fee (AAF): 6 lakh
   6. Additional Requirements:
      1. 40 hours of total flying time.
      2. 20 hours of solo flying time (under supervision).
3. Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
   1. Age: 18+
   2. Education: 12th class
   3. DGCA Certificate: Class I
   4. Average Duration: 2 years
   5. Average Annual Fee (AAF): 40 lakh
   6. Additional Requirements:
      1. Valid SPL or PPL.
      2. 200 hours of total flying time.

SPL is usually the first step towards becoming a pilot in India. PPL comes next and is enough to fly private planes for VIPs and helicopters. Meanwhile, anything bigger than that will require a Commercial Pilot License.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What subjects to study to become a pilot?

Ans. Subjects like Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, etc., are covered during the licensing period.

Q2. Can you tell me about the requirements to become a pilot in India?

Ans. First, you must clear the 10th class and immediately apply for SPL. Afterward, complete 10+2 and apply for either PPL or CPL.

Q3. How to become airline pilot in India?

Ans. To be eligible for flying a commercial flight such as an airline, you must clear your 12th class and get either an SPL or PPL license next. Then you can go for a Commercial Pilot License, or CPL, which is a mandatory requirement for getting hired as an airline pilot in India.

Q4. How to become a pilot in India after graduation?

Ans. The process is the same for 10+2 pass-outs and graduates. If you are from the science stream, immediately start prepping for SPL or PPL. Otherwise, learn the required subjects like Physics through the National Institute of Open Schooling.

Q5. What is the minimum height for pilot in India?

Ans. The Indian Air Force has designated the minimum height for male pilots as 152 cm or 5 feet and 148 cm or 4.8 feet for female pilots.