Pilot Shortage, Flawed Fix

Good Morning. India may soon have a new pilot training programme. It could get pilots to the cockpits much faster than the current programmes in place. The problem? Aviation experts see it coming at a cost to flying skills (the new programme having more simulator training) and a bunch of newly minted pilots who can only fly one kind of aircraft and work for one airline.

In other news, could India privatise uranium mining, departing from long-held government monopoly? Meanwhile, more not-so-great changes to the US student visa system.

DECODE THE NEWS

DGCA’s Pilot Training Overhaul May Not Solve India’s Pilot Crunch

What? 

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is planning an overhaul of how India trains its pilots.

On August 7, the DGCA announced it has formed a committee to review, develop policy, and set the regulatory framework for implementing the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) system in India.

MPL is being pitched as a fast-track route to airline cockpits. It merges traditional pilot training and type rating (certification that allows pilots to fly a specific type of aircraft) into a single, streamlined programme focused on one specific aircraft type from the outset.

“India has more than 2,000 new aircraft on order for delivery over the next decade — a fleet expansion that will require an estimated 12,000–15,000 new pilots,” Atiesh Mishra, Director AJM Jet Management, told The Core.

Airlines fear that, if they rely solely on the existing Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training programme, they will face an acute shortage within the next four to five years. CPL training takes longer to complete. The MPL is being pitched as a solution to fill that gap faster.

Why?

On paper, the model seems efficient: it produces type-rated first officers tailored to an airline’s needs. But in practice, critics warn it could come at the cost of broader flying skills and career flexibility.

“With the new system, the airlines will get a positive change. But it is very bad for general aviation and even more for the careers of the pilots,” says Captain Mihir Bhagvati, president of The Bombay Flying Club’s College of Aviation and a DGCA-designated pilot examiner.

In the MPL model, trainees spend 70 hours flying smaller aircraft before moving to simulator training for 140 hours, starting with smaller ones and then progressing directly to full-flight simulators for type rating on larger aircraft.

In the currently existing Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training programme, pilots are required to have 200 hours of flying experience, of which around 90% happens in an actual aircraft, and about 10% in a simulator.

But will tomorrow’s pilots buy into it — and what turbulence could this new system hit along the way?

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POLL RESULTS

Last week, we ran a poll asking you, our readers, how India should react to US president Donald Trump imposing more tariffs on us. Here are the results:

FROM THE PERIPHERY

Nuclear Goes Private. Could the Indian government allow private players into Uranium mining? That’s what government sources told wire agency Reuters on Wednesday. According to the report, private players could also be allowed to import and process uranium in a bid to expand India’s nuclear power capacity.

The Context: At the moment, mining and processing of the element are controlled by the government. According to a recent response to the Parliament by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, India has 4.34 lakh tonnes of uranium concentrates in uranium deposits located in 11 states.

What Next? India plans to expand its nuclear power capacity by 12 times by 2047, and if it is able to, nuclear power could contribute as much as 5% to India’s energy needs. So far, the government has controlled uranium mining because of safety and misuse concerns.

Tariff Tensions Escalate: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said trade negotiations with India remain unfinished, describing New Delhi as “a bit recalcitrant,” just days after Washington announced a steep tariff hike on Indian exports, Reuters reported.

The Backstory: The move, prompted by India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, doubles duties to 50%, combining an existing 25% reciprocal tariff with a fresh 25% penalty, and takes effect on August 27. Key sectors like diamonds, shrimp, home textiles, and auto parts are expected to feel the pinch.

Flashpoint: In The Core Report’s Weekend Edition, experts in a panel discussion urged India should quickly resume talks with the US, steer clear of red-line issues, and focus on cooperation in energy, defence, and diversified trade as the Trump administration eyes an October deadline for major deals.

Inflation Drops, Crisil Expects Repo Rate Cut. India’s retail inflation fell sharply to 1.6% in July 2025—the lowest in years—mainly because food prices are in deep deflation and core inflation is easing, according to a report by Crisil, an analytics and consulting firm. 

Fast Facts: Vegetables, pulses, cereals, and even meat are cheaper than last year, though edible oils and fruits are costlier. With inflation well below the RBI’s 2–6% tolerance band, Crisil said it expects another repo rate cut, which would boost purchasing power and make loans cheaper. 

Impact: “The sharp fall in retail inflation should buoy household purchasing power, particularly in the lower income segments,” said Dipti Deshpande, principal economist at Crisil Limited. 

Eli Lilly Launches KwikPen in India. US Pharma company Eli Lilly launched its once-a-week weight-loss Mounjaro KwikPen in India even as the sales of anti-obesity drugs continue to rise. Its 2.5 mg dose costs Rs 14,000, and higher doses cost up to Rs 27,500 per month. Two days ago, its competitor Novo Nordisk also released its Wegovy pen. 

Context: Since the two companies launched in India, they’ve seen strong sales growth, with July figures doubling compared to the previous month. 

Projections: Their patent for semaglutide, the key ingredient in these weight-loss drugs, will expire early next year in India. Indian brands like Cipla and Dr. Reddy’s have already begun making generics, which could cost 90% less than what’s currently in the market. 

😒 UGHH

No More “Dropbox” for US Visa Renewals. The US has ended its “Dropbox” visa renewal facility. Starting September 2, 2025, Indian applicants must now attend in-person interviews for work and student visas. 

Context: Previously, the waiver let those with clean records skip interviews. Indians are among the top users of the “dropbox” service; already, students have been struggling to get appointments. Requiring interviews for renewals will make it even harder. 

Breakthrough: Experts recommend that those in the US with valid status but expired visas should avoid travelling. They also recommend that people monitor the website of their local US embassy and allow extra time for booking interviews and visa processing. 

THE SIGNAL DAILY

How Do I Maintain My CIBIL Score?

Earlier this year, it was reported that a man didn’t get hired because of his poor CIBIL score. Another person was about to get married, but when the bride’s uncle checked his CIBIL score, the uncle decided to call off the wedding. Today, your CIBIL score isn’t just a number, it’s your financial reputation. 

Still, many Indians aren’t aware of what their CIBIL scores are. A YouGov and CRED survey of over 5000 Tier 1 city respondents with at least one credit card found that 40% of surveyors were unaware of their credit score. 30% of them admitted to inadequate credit management knowledge.

In the latest episode of The Signal Daily, we’ll learn about what CIBIL scores are. How can you check it and what are the best practices for maintaining a good CIBIL score? 

The Core produces The Signal Daily. Follow us wherever you get your favourite podcasts. To check out the rest of our work, go to www.thecore.in

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PODCAST

On Episode 654 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Puneet Gupta, Director - S&P Global Mobility, India & ASEAN. We also feature an excerpt from Puja Mehra’s recent interview with Neelkanth Mishra from our who How India’s Economy Works.

• Will India join the global stock rally party?

• Why you should not worry about Russian oil

• Should India raise tariff barriers in these times?

• Europe is seeing record temperatures again

• The ethanol blending controversy

👥 THE TEAM

✍️ Zinal Dedhia, Kudrat Wadhwa | ✂️ Rohini Chatterji | 🎧 Joshua Thomas