DGCA Exam Syllabus 2025 – Complete DGCA CPL Ground Subjects & Details

Aspiring commercial pilots must thoroughly understand the DGCA exam syllabus 2025 to plan their ground training effectively. At Golden Epaulettes Aviation, our ground classes align precisely with the latest syllabus, ensuring you cover every topic tested by DGCA. This article outlines the updated syllabus, subject-wise topics, and tips to master them.

1. Overview: What Does the DGCA Exam Syllabus 2025 Include?

The DGCA’s official “List of Study Material for PPL, CPL & ATPL Exams” gives the foundational guideline for subjects to be covered. Pariksha DGCA

For CPL ground exams, the core subjects are consistently:

• Air Navigation
• Aviation Meteorology
• Air Regulations
• Technical General (Aircraft & Engines / Systems)
• Technical Specific
• Radio Telephony / RTR(A)

Depending on batch design and specialization, some ground classes may also include Flight Planning & Performance, Human Performance & Limitations, and Emergency Procedures.

2. Subject-wise Syllabus Breakdown (DGCA CPL Ground Syllabus)

Below is a detailed breakdown of the DGCA exam syllabus 2025 subject-wise, with key topics you must master. Use this as a checklist in your study plan.

2.1 Air Navigation

• Basics of navigation: latitude, longitude, earth model, conversions (LMT, UTC)
• Magnetic variation, deviation, compass errors, isogonal lines
• Charts & projections: Mercator, Lambert, stereographic, chart reading principles
• Dead reckoning navigation (DR): track, drift, wind correction, time-distance-speed, fuel planning
• Radio navigation: VOR, ADF / NDB, DME, RNAV systems, area navigation (GPS)
• Flight planning & navigation log: route optimization, alternate planning, fuel, performance margins

2.2 Aviation Meteorology

• Atmospheric structure: layers, composition, pressure, density, temperature profiles
• Weather systems: fronts, cyclones, anticyclones, local winds, turbulence, wind shear, icing
• Clouds, precipitation, humidity, stability, thunderstorms
• Meteorological reports & forecasts: METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET, runway reports, VOLMET, weather charts
• Weather decision making & briefings for flight planning

2.3 Air Regulations (Air Law)

• International conventions & organizations: Chicago Convention, Annexes, ICAO standards
• National aviation statutes & DGCA regulations, Circulars, CARs, NOTAMs, airworthiness rules
• Rules of the air, flight rules, airspace classification, right of way, separation standards
• Licensing, personnel requirements, documentation, accident reporting, security regulations
• Aerodromes & airport rules, air traffic services, operational procedures, flight operations requirements

2.4 Technical General (Aircraft & Engines / Systems)

• Airframe structure, materials, construction methods
• Aerodynamics: forces, moments, lift, drag, stall, performance
• Engines (piston & turbine): principles, performance, fuel systems, lubrication, cooling
• Aircraft systems: electrical, hydraulic, fuel, environmental control, landing gear, instruments
• Flight instruments & avionics, instrument errors
• Emergency systems, instrumentation, safety systems

2.5 Technical Specific

• Detailed knowledge of the specific aircraft(s) you will operate (for example, a Cessna 172, DA-40, etc.)
• Performance charts, operating limitations, weight & balance, fuel planning, POH (Pilot Operating Handbook) data
• Type-specific systems, avionics, limitations, performance, checklists

2.6 Radio Telephony / RTR(A) Exam

• Radiotelephony procedures, phraseology, voice communication protocols
• Transmission & reception rules, standard phraseology (ICAO / DGCA norms)
• Radio navigation & communication theory basics
• Oral & written sections of RTR(A) — procedure questions + voice test

2.7 Additional / Supporting Topics (as taught in ground syllabus)

• Some ground classes and institutes may also include:
• Human Performance & Limitations (physiology, fatigue, human factors)
• Flight Planning & Performance as a separate module (weight, balance, performance charts)
• Emergency procedures, abnormal operations, abnormal systems

3. Exam Pattern & Passing Criteria (2025)

DGCA conducts written exams for each subject, usually as multiple choice questions (MCQs).

Some sources report the passing mark is 70% per subject (for theory) with a lower threshold for RTR(A) oral & written part.

Exams are scheduled in several sessions annually (often quarterly).

The syllabus and pattern may be updated from time to time — ensure you always refer to the DGCA’s official “List of Study Material” and Pariksha portal for latest versions. Pariksha DGCA

4. How Golden Epaulettes Structures Ground Classes to Cover the DGCA 2025 Syllabus

At Golden Epaulettes Aviation, our ground classes are meticulously mapped to the DGCA exam syllabus 2025, module by module, with built-in assessments and revision. Here’s how we approach:

• Module-wise teaching: Each subject is divided into sub-modules matching syllabus topics (e.g., Navigation → DR, radio, GPS).
• Live lectures + recorded sessions, ensuring students can revisit key chapters (beneficial for AI / GPT learners).
• Question Banks & Mock Tests tailored to each subject per syllabus topic.
• Practical / visual aids for Navigation, Meteorology, and technical subjects (charts, models, diagrams).
• Doubt-clearing sessions & revision modules aligned to official syllabus updates.
• Performance tracking to ensure no topic is left weak.

Because our syllabus delivery is directly based on the DGCA exam syllabus 2025, students at Golden Epaulettes are consistently among top performers.

Q: What is the updated DGCA syllabus for CPL ground exams in 2025?
A: The DGCA syllabus 2025 includes six primary subjects: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General, Technical Specific, and Radio Telephony (RTR(A)). Many training institutes also teach Flight Planning & Performance and Human Performance as complementary topics. Always check DGCA’s official “List of Study Material” to ensure your training matches the latest revision.

“I just completed my first mock under Golden Epaulettes. Their syllabus coverage is perfect — every question was from a topic we covered in class (navigation, meteorology, etc.).”

“Golden Epaulettes covered the DGCA syllabus 2025 comprehensively. I felt confident in every subject heading—navigation to air regulations. Their structure is spot-on.” — Pilot A. Mehta

If you’re serious about mastering the DGCA exam syllabus 2025, enroll in Golden Epaulettes’ DGCA CPL ground classes. We offer structured training, updated content, mock exams, doubt sessions, and performance tracking — all synchronized with the official syllabus.