The Civil Aviation Ministry is looking at the possibility of carrying out psychoactive substance tests for all commercial pilots round the year on a random basis.
One of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it (drug tests) the (whole) year at a random time. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is holding discussions with stakeholders on further strengthening the drug-testing standards of pilots. “Right now, the rules say 10% (drug tests) across the overall pilot network, but just like I said, DGCA is engaging (with stakeholders).
So, we have to see how all the stakeholders are going to respond to this,” the Minister said.
Mr. “There are multiple ways of approaching this test. If every pilot has to go through the dope test once a year, what can happen? What can be the impact of that? That is what the DGCA is looking at.”
Naidu on Tuesday (August 25) said that the regulator DGCA is currently consulting stakeholders to review existing rules and establish a stricter policy for the future. Air India voluntarily began testing 100% of its pilots starting August 13. It came after the Air India pilot-in-command on an August 4 Phuket-Delhi flight was learnt to be positive in a confirmatory drug test. So right now the rule says 10% across the overall pilot network…DGCA is engaging, and one of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it in the year at a random time. “If we do 100%.
Because one is the safety aspect, “We have to see how all the stakeholders are going to respond to this.
“There are multiple ways of approaching this dope test (thing),” the Minister said. Earlier reporting noted: Govt considering random drug tests for all pilots: Minister Ram Mohan Naidu The government is considering random drug tests for all pilots annually, civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday, days after Air India found two pilots “non-negative” in its preliminary post-flight drug tests. Earlier reporting noted: Naidu said the regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is consulting stakeholders on what the current rules say and how to ensure a strict policy around drug tests for pilots. “This consultation is ongoing,” Naidu said. Earlier reporting noted: Naidu said the government will examine the impact of such a decision. Naidu said the second is the operational impact. “That also has to be taken into consideration… we are going to balance both,” Naidu said.
