DGCA Medical for Pilots: Class 1 vs Class 2, Where to Get It and the Step-by-Step Procedure (2026)

Before you spend on ground classes or flying hours, there is one question every aspiring pilot in India should answer first: are you medically fit to hold a pilot licence?

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will not issue or renew a licence unless the applicant meets its notified medical standards. This guide explains the two medical classes that matter to most students, where you can take each one, how to book, and where to find DGCA's official lists of examiners and centres across India.

All rules below come from DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 7, Series C, Part I, Revision 7, dated 1 October 2025, effective 15 November 2025, and the examiner lists published on the DGCA website.

Why the medical comes first

Rule 39B of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 says no licence or rating will be issued or renewed unless the applicant is examined by an approved medical authority and meets the standards notified by the Director General. That makes the medical the first gate in your pilot journey, not the last.

Many students discover a medical issue only after paying for training. Taking your medical early protects your time and your family's money.

Class 1 vs Class 2: which one do you need?

DGCA uses different medical classes for different licences.

Class 2 Medical Assessment

According to the CAR (para 2.4.2), a Class 2 Medical Assessment is required for:

• Student Pilot Licence (Aeroplane, Helicopter, Glider, Balloon, Microlight)
• Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane and Helicopter)
• Pilot Licence (Microlight)
• Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence, including the restricted licence

Class 1 Medical Assessment

A Class 1 Medical Assessment (para 2.4.1) is required for:

• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Aeroplane and Helicopter
• Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), Aeroplane and Helicopter
• Private Pilot Licence holders who need Instrument Rating privileges

In simple terms: if you want to fly professionally for an airline, you will need Class 1. Class 2 covers the student pilot and private flying stages.

Do you need Class 2 before Class 1?

The CAR says a Class 2 Medical Assessment is not mandatory before you take a Class 1 examination (para 3.1.5). If you have done a Class 2 recently, the centre may, at its discretion, accept investigations from that Class 2 examination if they were done within the last two months.

In practice, many students start with Class 2 because a Student Pilot Licence needs it. DGCA's own Class 1 guidance describes the initial Class 1 as the medical a person with a valid Class 2 takes when applying for Class 1 for the first time. Speak to your chosen centre or examiner about the sequence that suits your plan.

How long does a DGCA medical stay valid?

Para 5.1 of the CAR sets these validity periods:

• Class 1: one year up to age 60, and six months after that. For single-crew operations, validity is six months above age 40.
• Class 2: two years up to age 50, and one year after that.

DGCA's Class 1 guidance adds that a renewal medical can be done from 45 days before your current assessment expires. If your last Class 1 medical is more than two years old, you must take a fresh initial ("re-initial") Class 1 examination.

Where can you take a DGCA Class 1 medical?

Initial Class 1 examination

Your first Class 1 examination can only be done at the centres listed in para 3.1.1 of the CAR: the three Indian Air Force boarding centres and the DGCA-empanelled Aeromedical Evaluation Centres.

DGCA's official list of Class 1 centres and examiners (updated 28 October 2026) shows 13 centres for Class 1 examinations: 3 IAF boarding centres and 10 DGCA-approved Aeromedical Evaluation Centres.

IAF boarding centres:

• Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), Subroto Park, New Delhi
• Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru
• Medical Evaluation Cell (East), 5 Air Force Hospital, Jorhat, Assam

DGCA-empanelled Aeromedical Evaluation Centres (civil hospitals):

• New Delhi: Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Sarita Vihar
• New Delhi: Max Multi Specialty Centre, Panchsheel Park
• Gurugram: Medanta – The Medicity
• Mumbai: Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle (West)
• Mumbai: V M Medical Centre (Mirra's Aeromedical Centre), Worli
• Pune: Ruby Hall Clinic (Grant Medical Foundation)
• Bengaluru: Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road
• Chennai: Apollo, Greams Road
• Hyderabad: Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills
• Indore: Apollo Hospitals, Vijay Nagar

The DGCA list gives the full address, phone numbers and email for each centre. Always check the latest version before you book, because DGCA updates it from time to time.

Class 1 renewal

Routine Class 1 renewals have more options. DGCA's list states that renewals are conducted at 18 Indian Air Force centres and by 53 DGCA-empanelled Class 1 Medical Examiners across the country. The CAR sets out which renewals must go to the larger centres, for example the five-yearly renewal from age 45 to 60.

Where can you take a DGCA Class 2 medical?

Para 3.2.1 of the CAR allows Class 2 examinations, both initial and renewal, by:

• any DGCA-empanelled Class 1 Medical Examiner, and
• any DGCA-empanelled Class 2 Medical Examiner. These are doctors with at least an MBBS, registered with the medical council, who have completed approved training in aviation medicine at IAM, Bengaluru.

DGCA publishes the official list of empanelled Class 2 Medical Examiners (updated 27 August 2026). It is organised by Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern regions. It shows each doctor's name, clinic address, phone number, email and the date until which their DGCA empanelment is valid.

The list includes examiners across Delhi NCR, including Dwarka, as well as in many other states. Check that the examiner's empanelment is still valid on the date of your appointment.

Step-by-step: how to take your DGCA medical

Step 1: Know which medical you need

Decide whether you need Class 2 (Student Pilot Licence or PPL) or Class 1 (CPL or ATPL), and whether it is an initial, renewal or re-initial examination.

Step 2: Choose a centre or examiner from DGCA's list

Use the official Class 1 list or Class 2 list. Do not rely on third-party lists that may be out of date.

Step 3: Book your appointment on eGCA

The CAR says that, as a first step, the applicant must book the appointment on the eGCA module for the intended DGCA-empanelled centre or examiner (para 4.2). DGCA's medical page confirms that appointments are now given online through eGCA. You can log in from the DGCA website.

Step 4: Pay the official DGCA fee

Para 4.3 of the CAR requires applicants to pay a fee on Bharatkosh before an examination at an IAF centre. The official DGCA fees are:

• Class 1, initial issue: ₹5,000
• Class 1, renewal: ₹5,000
• Class 2 (and Class 3), initial issue: ₹3,000
• Class 2 (and Class 3), renewal: ₹3,000

Investigation charges at IAF boarding centres are covered separately in DGCA's FCL Circular 03 of 2025. DGCA-empanelled civil hospitals and private examiners set their own charges, so confirm the total with them when you book. Fees can be revised, so check the current CAR before paying.

Step 5: Prepare your declaration and investigations

You will sign a declaration about any previous medical examination, illness, injury, surgery and current medication (para 4.5). Be completely honest: DGCA treats a false declaration as a serious lapse and examiners must report it.

The investigations you need are specified by DGCA. For Class 1, they are listed in FCL Circular 03 of 2025. For Class 2, they are listed in CAR Section 7, Series C, Part IV. Both are on the DGCA website.

Step 6: Attend the examination

The examiner records your results on the DGCA forms and gives you a medical certificate (Form CA 35) at the end. Your final Medical Assessment is then issued by DGCA, online through eGCA where the details were entered online.

Step 7: If you are declared unfit

Temporary unfitness does not always end your journey. If you are declared temporarily unfit for more than three months, or permanently unfit, the CAR allows you to appeal to DGCA for a review within 90 days (para 7.3). Appeals can be processed on eGCA. Re-initial, post-temporary-unfit and special medicals need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from DGCA's Medical Directorate, applied for on eGCA using DGCA's step-by-step NOC user manual.

Practical tips for students and parents

• Do the medical before paying big fees. Clear at least your Class 2, and ideally your Class 1, before committing to flying training.
• Use only DGCA's official lists. Book with a centre or examiner on the current DGCA list, and check the empanelment validity date.
• Plan travel for the initial Class 1. Only 13 centres conduct it, in a handful of cities, so book early and plan your trip.
• Ask about medical standards early. If you wear glasses or have any condition, discuss it with a DGCA-empanelled examiner before you begin training. The standards follow ICAO Annex 1 and DGCA's medical AICs.

Frequently asked questions

Which DGCA medical is needed for CPL?

A Class 1 Medical Assessment is required for applicants and holders of a Commercial Pilot Licence and an ATPL.

Is Class 2 medical compulsory before Class 1?

No. DGCA's CAR says a Class 2 assessment is not mandatory before the Class 1 examination. Many students take Class 2 first because a Student Pilot Licence requires it.

Where can I do my first Class 1 medical?

Only at the 3 IAF boarding centres (New Delhi, Bengaluru, Jorhat) or one of the 10 DGCA-empanelled Aeromedical Evaluation Centres in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Indore, as per DGCA's list updated 28 October 2026.

How long is a Class 1 medical valid?

One year up to age 60 and six months after that, with six months above 40 for single-crew operations.

What is the DGCA fee for a Class 1 medical?

As per CAR Section 7 Series C Part I (para 4.3), the fee paid on Bharatkosh before an IAF centre examination is ₹5,000 for a Class 1 initial or renewal, and ₹3,000 for Class 2. Civil centres and private examiners charge separately.

How do I book a DGCA medical appointment?

Book it online through the eGCA module on the DGCA website, choosing a centre or examiner from DGCA's official list.

The bottom line

Know which class you need, book through eGCA with a centre on DGCA's official list, and take your medical before you invest heavily in training.

Related reading on Airborne Aviation

• Pilot training in India: why 4 in 10 new commercial pilots still trained abroad
• How to become a pilot in India after Class 12
• DGCA ground school guide

Plan your next step with Airborne Aviation

Unsure which medical to take first, or how it fits into your CPL timeline? Airborne Aviation Academy in Dwarka, New Delhi offers DGCA CPL ground classes and a guidance session for parents. Contact our team or WhatsApp +91 9953 777 320 to plan your path.

Last updated: 30 October 2026. Based on DGCA CAR Section 7 Series C Part I (Rev 7, 1 Oct 2025) and DGCA's Class 1 (28 Oct 2026) and Class 2 (27 Aug 2026) examiner lists. Medical rules and lists change, so always confirm on the DGCA website before booking.