What the DGCA examination is: papers, format, marks and full form

What are the five papers?

• Air Navigation
• Aviation Meteorology
• Air Regulation
• Technical General
• Technical Specific

Technical Specific is about the aircraft type you train on, and it's part of the CPL. Performance is an extra paper only for the heavier aeroplane categories. RTR(A), the radio licence, is a separate exam and isn't one of the five.

How is it marked?

Each paper is marked on its own. You need 70% in every one, and a great score in one paper can't make up for a weak one in another. DGCA publishes no negative marking rule.

How long does a pass last?

Five years. Every paper you count towards your CPL has to be passed within the five years before you apply for the licence. A pass older than that drops out, and you sit that paper again. You can attempt a paper as many times as you need, but that five-year clock keeps running.

How many questions, and how much time?

Your admit card gives the exact numbers. Every paper is marked out of 100, and you can expect roughly this:

Is a calculator allowed?

Only in Air Navigation, and it has to be your own. Nobody can lend you one in the hall.

When can I sit it, and what does it cost?

There are four regular sessions a year, about one a quarter, plus around eight on-demand sessions that people mostly use for re-attempts. You pay for each paper through Bharatkosh, and you don't get the fee back.

Fees change from time to time, so confirm the amount on the portal before you pay.

How do I sit the exam?

1. 1Get your Computer Number on Pariksha.

   It's free, and you can't book anything without it. How to get one

2. 2Apply when a session opens.

   Each session's notice gives the dates, and applications usually stay open for five to seven weeks. On-demand seats go first come, first served, so apply early for those. You can apply once per session.

3. 3Sit the paper.

   Take a printed admit card and your original photo ID. A copy on your phone or a photocopy of your ID can get you turned away at the door.

4. 4Check your result in your Pariksha login.

   DGCA doesn't put result lists on its website any more. Your score usually comes by SMS within a few days of the paper.

Pariksha or eGCA?

Pariksha is for the exam: your Computer Number, bookings, admit cards and results. eGCA is for the licence itself, once your papers are done. Anything to do with sitting a paper happens on Pariksha.

Is there a 42-day wait after failing?

Yes. Once you sit a paper, the portal won't let you book that same paper again until 42 days after the exam. If you miss the paper altogether, the wait doesn't apply. Count the 42 days from your exam date when you plan the next attempt.