The Directorate General of Civil Aviation congratulated its internal teams and technology partners for successfully implementing the initiative.
The cooperation of the aviation industry and other stakeholders was acknowledged for adopting the new digital licensing system.
Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL)
The Electronic Personnel Licence is a secure digital licence issued to aviation personnel.
It incorporates International Civil Aviation Organization–aligned security features to:
Ensure authenticity
Prevent tampering
Enable real-time licence verification
The licence is accessible through the e-Governance of Civil Aviation mobile application.
Phased Implementation
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation initiated the roll-out of the Electronic Personnel Licence in February 2025.
The first phase covered:
Commercial Pilot Licence
Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s Licence (Restricted)
Expansion to Airline Transport Pilot Licence
The launch of Electronic Personnel Licence services for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence marks an important expansion of the programme.
This step reinforces the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s commitment to:
Enhanced operational efficiency
Greater transparency
Improved service delivery across India’s aviation sector
Overall Significance
The initiative supports digital governance in civil aviation.
It improves regulatory oversight, simplifies licence verification, and enhances trust and efficiency for aviation professionals and authorities.
9th Meeting of the India–Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC)
Meeting Overview
The Ninth Meeting of the India–Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.
The meeting was co-chaired by:
U Minn Minn, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
Representatives from relevant stakeholder ministries of both countries participated.
Key Areas of Discussion
Enhancing bilateral connectivity and cross-border infrastructure
Expanding market access and facilitating smoother trade flows
Streamlining financial transactions, including promotion of the Rupee–Kyat trade settlement mechanism
Re-opening and strengthening border trade posts
Maximizing benefits from the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)
Myanmar’s Perspective
Myanmar appreciated India’s open and supportive trade policy, especially for Myanmar’s exports
Special mention was made of India’s support for exports of pulses and beans from Myanmar
Sector-Specific Cooperation
Both sides explored cooperation in priority sectors, including:
Textiles
Transport and connectivity
Capacity building
Customs and border management
Shipping and power
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Health and pharmaceuticals
Agriculture
Enhanced collaboration in these areas is expected to yield sustained long-term economic gains
Border Trade Infrastructure
Strategic importance of the Tamu–Moreh and Rhi–Zokhawthar border trade posts reaffirmed
India reiterated its request for the early reopening of these land border points
Both sides emphasized the development of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Tamu to improve trade efficiency
Bilateral Trade Performance and Targets
Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar reached USD 2.15 billion in 2024–25
Both countries agreed on a shared vision to expand bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2030
Trade Agreement Review
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to expedite the review of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)
The goal is to make the agreement simpler, balanced, mutually beneficial, and trade-facilitative
Way Forward
Strengthen cooperation across all discussed sectors
Maintain regular communication among relevant agencies for effective follow-up
The next India–Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting will be held in New Delhi
SAMPANN Services Integrated with UMANG Platform
Overview of the Initiative
The SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) pension management system, developed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA), has been integrated with the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) platform.
This integration allows pensioners to retrieve their Pension Payment Order (PPO) number and Life Certificate (LC) validity status via the UMANG mobile app or web portal.
Objective: To enhance ease of access, promote transparency, and ensure seamless delivery of pension-related services.
Key Highlights of the Integration
Pensioners can access vital information anytime, anywhere without visiting offices.
Services are complemented by the DigiLocker integration, allowing secure digital access to pension documents.
The initiative aligns with the Digital India mission.
UMANG Platform
UMANG is a single unified platform (mobile app + web portal) for accessing government services offered by Central, State, and Local bodies.
Platforms supported: Android, iOS, and Web
Pensioners can authenticate via Aadhaar to access services.
Developed, owned, and operated by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA).
Dedicated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 29th December 2018.
Provides pensioner-centric governance, reducing the need for retirees to visit offices.
Covers the entire pension lifecycle:
Initiation and processing of cases
Issuance of e-Pension Payment Orders (e-PPOs)
Disbursement directly into bank accounts
Accounting, reconciliation, and financial reporting
Audit facilitation and grievance redressal
SAMPANN Features Accessible via UMANG
Check PPO Number: Enter bank/post office account number and date of birth to retrieve PPO number.
Life Certificate Validity Date: Enter bank/post office account number, registered mobile number, or PPO number along with date of birth to check LC validity.
Via Mobile App: Download from Google Play Store or Apple App Store → Choose language → Allow permissions → Register/Login using MPIN or OTP
DigiLocker login can also be used directly.
Services can be found by searching for keywords like: Telecommunications, SAMPANN, Pension, PPO, CGCA, Life Certificate, or browsing under Social Security & Pensioner.
Lucknow Achieves 100% Scientific Waste Processing under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban
Major Milestone
With the launch of the Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant, Lucknow has achieved 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste.
The city has officially become a ‘Zero Fresh Waste Dump’ city under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U).
Lucknow is the first city in Uttar Pradesh to achieve this distinction.
Urban Context and Challenges
Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, has:
Nearly 40 lakh residents
About 7.5 lakh establishments
Rapid urban expansion has increased challenges related to:
Waste generation
Environmental sustainability
Public health
Waste Processing Infrastructure
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a multi-pronged waste management strategy focusing on:
Scientific waste disposal
Resource recovery
Sustainable urban development
The city now has three waste processing plants, each with a capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day (MT/day).
Total waste processing capacity: 2,100 MT/day, sufficient to handle the city’s entire daily waste generation.
Waste Generation and Segregation
Lucknow generates approximately 2,000 MT of waste per day.
Waste composition:
55% organic waste
45% inorganic waste
Organic waste is converted into:
Compost
Biogas
Inorganic waste is:
Recycled, or
Converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for use in cement and paper industries
Performance indicators:
Door-to-door waste collection efficiency: 96.53%
Source segregation: Above 70%
Legacy Waste Management
Total legacy waste identified: 18.5 lakh metric tonnes
Scientifically processed so far: 12.86 lakh metric tonnes
Outputs from legacy waste processing include:
RDF: 2.27 lakh MT sent for industrial co-processing
Coarse fractions: 4.38 lakh MT
Bio-soil: 0.59 lakh MT
Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste: 2.35 lakh MT
These materials have been reused for:
Recycling
Co-processing
Environmentally safe low-land filling
Infrastructure development
Land Reclamation and Site Transformation
Over 25 acres of land reclaimed from legacy waste dumping.
The reclaimed site has been developed into a fully integrated waste processing complex, featuring:
Windrow pads
Internal roads
Processing sheds
Dedicated weighbridges
Complete waste handling ecosystem
Future Roadmap: Waste-to-Energy (WtE)
LMC plans to establish a 15 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at Shivari.
The plant will:
Use 1,000–1,200 MT of RDF daily
Convert waste into electricity
Reduce long-distance RDF transportation (currently ~500 km to cement plants)
Lower operational costs and carbon footprint
Broader Significance
Lucknow’s model reflects strong adherence to circular economy principles:
Maximizing resource recovery
Minimizing landfill dependency
Reusing and recycling waste streams
The city’s approach serves as a best-practice model for:
Other Indian cities
Urban local bodies
International waste management initiatives
DGCA Directed Airline to appoint Chief of Flight Safety
Context and Background
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued new safety directives to all Indian aviation operators.
The move follows repeated findings from accident investigations that point to recurring causal factors and systemic deficiencies in aviation operations.
Existing safety improvements, largely based on post-incident (reactive) measures, have shown limited scope for major safety gains.
Rationale for the DGCA Directive
Accident investigations, while useful, cannot by themselves ensure substantial safety improvements.
The aviation industry is transitioning from a reactive safety model to a proactive Safety Management System (SMS).
A proactive approach enables early identification and mitigation of safety risks before they escalate into incidents or accidents.
There is a need to institutionalise safety oversight through dedicated leadership and structured safety departments.
Key Directives Issued by DGCA
Mandatory appointment of safety leadership:
Airlines must appoint a Chief of Flight Safety.
A Deputy Chief of Flight Safety must also be nominated.
If the Chief is a pilot, the Deputy must be an engineer, and vice versa, ensuring operational and technical balance.
Creation of a dedicated Flight Safety Department:
Must be staffed with an adequate number of competent personnel.
Responsible for promoting flight safety and implementing accident/incident prevention programmes.
Integration of Safety Management Systems (SMS):
SMS must be integrated with safety awareness and prevention programmes.
Establishes a structured framework for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of operational practices.
Safety Culture and Operational Oversight
Operators are required to build a strong safety culture across the organisation.
Mandatory internal safety audits to be conducted in:
Flight operations
Aircraft maintenance
Ground handling and support services
Emphasis on identifying latent risks and systemic weaknesses rather than only individual errors.
Human Factors and Crew Welfare
DGCA stresses the need for strict flight and duty time limitations.
Objective is to prevent crew fatigue, which is recognised as a critical risk factor affecting flight safety.
Scope and Applicability
The directives apply to:
Scheduled passenger airlines
Cargo operators
Non-scheduled air transport services
Covers the entire spectrum of commercial aviation operations in India.
