♦ Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu launched the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots on 20 February 2025.

♦ This initiative, made India the second country in the world to implement digital pilot licenses, following approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

♦ Replacing traditional physical licenses, the EPL will now be available in a digital format, accessible through the eGCA Mobile Application. 

♦ The adoption of EPL follows ICAO’s Amendment 178 to Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing, which encourages electronic licensing for improved efficiency and security.

♦ For years, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued pilot licenses in smart card format, with over 62,000 such licenses already distributed.

♦ ​​​​​​​In 2024 alone, nearly 20,000 pilots required printed card licenses, averaging 1,667 cards per month.