What Is the CPL Exam? India’s 2025 Deep-Dive Guide for Aspiring Commercial Pilots

You’re here because flying for a living sounds less like a dream and more like a plan. The Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) theory exams are the academic runway to that plan — the checkpoint that proves you can think like a pilot before you fly like one. This guide cuts the noise and walks you through everything that actually matters: who’s eligible, how to register, what to study, how marks work, where English Language Proficiency (ELP) and radio licences fit in, and how to avoid traps that waste time and money. Every critical claim is tied to official sources so you can verify, bookmark and move with confidence.

 

The CPL exam in one glance

In India, DGCA’s Central Examination Organisation (CEO) conducts Flight Crew theory examinations under Rule 41A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. These are computer-based tests hosted on the PARIKSHA portal and have been conducted online since late 2018. You’ll interact with PARIKSHA to register, obtain a Computer Number, apply for sessions, download admit cards and view results. 

What the papers actually test

CPL candidates are examined on the classic core of professional airmanship:

• Air Regulations
   
• Air Navigation
   
• Aviation Meteorology
   
• Aircraft & Engines / Technical General
   
• Technical Specific (type-specific paper, e.g., Cessna 172, Piper PA-28, etc., as applicable)
   

The subject basket and the requirement to pass written knowledge components are laid down in Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules (Section J for CPL, with knowledge areas including Air Regulations, Navigation, Meteorology and Aircraft & Engines). Technical-Specific is required when you seek privileges on a specific type used in training/checks. 

Why these four core subjects?

Because professional airmanship is a triangle of law, situation awareness and systems: regulations keep you legal, navigation keeps you found, meteorology keeps you cautious, and aircraft systems keep you honest.

 

Who is eligible to sit the CPL theory papers?

• Educational qualification: 10+2 (Class XII) with Physics and Mathematics from a recognised board (or equivalent). Candidates who studied with foreign/other boards typically need equivalency recognition (e.g., via the Association of Indian Universities) as per DGCA guidance.
   
• Age: The exam portal allows registration from 16 years of age; there is no maximum age limit to register as a flight crew candidate on PARIKSHA. Licence issue and flying privileges have their own age requirements, but exam registration itself is open.
   
• Computer Number: Mandatory for all flight crew exams; it’s your unique ID for applications, results and history.
   
• Medical: For appearing in theory exams, DGCA does not require you to already hold Class 1. However, Class 1 medical is required for CPL issue; many candidates undergo Class 2 early and upgrade to Class 1 before flight tests. Medical rules live separately under DGCA Medical. (Check DGCA’s Medical pages for current examiner lists and appointment procedures.)
   

Exam fee: ₹2,500 per paper (non-refundable; set and collected per session notice). 

 

First milestone: get your DGCA Computer Number

Everything flows from this. Here’s the clean sequence:

1. Create your PARIKSHA profile → choose Flight Crew and begin registration.
    
2. Upload documents (identity, educational proof showing Physics & Maths, photo, signature; follow the exact file specs in the User Manual).
    
3. Submit online and track status via candidate login; approvals are notified via email/SMS.
    
4. Once approved, your Computer Number is generated — it’s unique and must be quoted for all future correspondence.
    

The Flight Crew User Manual on PARIKSHA explains each screen, required images and common rejection reasons. Bookmark the Flight Crew Notice Board for session calendars, public notices and results. 

 

What the exam looks like (format, marking and results)

• Mode: Computer-based tests conducted at approved centres during notified sessions. All Flight Crew theory exams (general and technical) have been online since the October 2018 session.
   
• Marking: A score of 70% or more is treated as a pass. You can see this threshold reflected across official DGCA result PDFs — candidates marked Pass at exactly 70/100 in CPL subjects.
   
• Session rhythm: DGCA publishes session notices and application windows on the Notice Board. Always align your flying school’s plan with these windows.
   

Practical tip: Build a study plan that aims for 75–80% on mocks. Aiming above the minimum cushions against topic bias and exam nerves.

 

The syllabus — and what “Technical Specific” actually means

Air Regulations covers the legal frame you’ll operate under: rules of the air, licensing, airworthiness basics, operations, flight planning responsibilities and standard procedures. Navigation spans dead reckoning, radio/navigation aids, performance & planning, and human-in-the-loop decision-making around fuel and alternates. Meteorology blends atmosphere fundamentals with operational weather — fronts, thunderstorms, fog and how to read, not merely memorise, charts. Technical General builds your mental model of aeroplane systems, engines, instruments and limitations.

Technical Specific is narrower and very practical: you’ll be quizzed on the specific aircraft you trained on or will be checked on (e.g., Cessna 172 systems and limitations). This prevents the classic trap of knowing “aviation” but not knowing your aeroplane. (DGCA publishes lists and reference texts; older but still useful study material lists are available on PARIKSHA for orientation.) 

 

Where ELP and radio licences fit in (and why they matter)

Two additional capabilities sit alongside your CPL knowledge:

1. Aviation English — ELP: India implements ICAO English Language Proficiency requirements via CAR Section 7 Series G Part III. Flight crew must demonstrate operational English competency through DGCA-approved testing providers and maintain currency as per CAR. Session-wise implementation and extensions are notified by DGCA public notices. In practice, candidates aim for Level 4 or higher to meet operational requirements.
    
2. Radio communication privilege — RTR/FRTO:
    
   • The Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of DoT issues the Restricted Radiotelephony (Aeronautical) — RTR(A) credential used widely by pilots in India.
      
   • The Aircraft Rules also define the Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s (Restricted) Licence under the aviation licensing framework. In practice, pilots ensure compliance by holding the radio communication qualification mandated by current rules/ops guidance (your FTO will align you to the exact pathway during licensing).
      

Bottom line: By the time you’re ready for licence issue, you should have ELP documented and your radio communication qualification in place. Keep an eye on DGCA public notices and the DoT/WPC portal for administrative updates. 

 

How to register for an exam session (once you have a Computer Number)

1. Watch the Notice Board: Note the application window, exam calendar and cities.
    
2. Apply paper-wise: Select subjects (e.g., Air Regs, Nav, Met, TG, TS) and pay fees (₹2,500 per paper).
    
3. Download admit card when released.
    
4. Test day: Carry originals/IDs as directed in the Instructions to Candidates; follow reporting times and invigilator directions.
    
5. Results: Published on PARIKSHA; use your Computer Number to view history and plan re-attempts if needed.
    

 

Smart preparation that saves months

Build from the rules, not rumours. Start with the Aircraft Rules Schedule II to understand what India actually expects at CPL level, then map each topic to modern study texts and practice banks. 

Sequence your papers. Many candidates clear Air Regulations first (it inoculates your decision-making for all other papers), then Meteorology and Navigation, and finally Technical papers when systems knowledge is fresh from ground school.

Study to apply, not recall. Navigation and Met questions reward those who can interpret — wind triangles, drift corrections, density altitude impacts, frontal weather strategies. Drill worked examples until you can explain your answer out loud.

Treat Technical Specific like a checklist. Memorise limitations, normal procedures, abnormals, systems flows and the AFM/POH eccentricities of your training type. That attention to detail pays off again in your skill test.

Over-prepare for 70%. DGCA marks are binary: pass or re-attempt. Results PDFs show candidates passing right at 70/100; your goal is a buffer. Mock above 75–80% before booking the paper. 

Plan around the calendar. Session timings drive everything — including when to start/stop flying phases to avoid “dead months.” Keep the Notice Board tab pinned. 

 

Common pitfalls — and the fixes

• Computer Number rejections: Most come from photo/signature specs or incomplete educational proof for Physics & Maths. Follow the User Manual pixel/format rules exactly and upload legible documents.
   
• Equivalency oversight: If your 10+2 (or equivalent) is from a non-standard board, get AIU equivalence early to avoid last-minute blocks.
   
• Leaving ELP/RTR late: Delaying language and radio steps can stall licence issue after you finish flying. Start them in parallel per your FTO’s plan, guided by CAR (ELP) and DoT/WPC instructions.
   
• Chasing outdated syllabi: DGCA periodically revokes or revises published syllabi and moves details into CARs/Rules; treat any third-party list as a supplement only. Use DGCA Rules/CAR pages as your source of truth.
   

 

A simple, reliable plan you can start today

1. Confirm eligibility — ensure Class XII Physics & Maths is documented and, if needed, get equivalency recognised.
    
2. Obtain Computer Number on PARIKSHA (complete profile, upload documents, watch email/SMS).
    
3. Map the syllabus to your study stack — Regulations → Met → Nav → Tech General → Tech Specific — and schedule weekly blocks.
    
4. Watch the Notice Board — book the first two papers you’re consistently mocking above 75–80%.
    
5. Line up ELP testing with a DGCA-approved provider and start RTR/FRTO steps with the WPC/DoT and licensing requirements in mind.
    
6. Repeat the loop — clear remaining papers, then pivot hard into flight checks and licence paperwork in eGCA.
    

 

Why this guide emphasises official pages

DGCA’s site can feel labyrinthine, but it’s the only place where rules actually change. Keep these four tabs pinned:

• Aircraft Rules — Schedule II (licensing requirements & knowledge areas)
   
• Civil Aviation Requirements (Section 7 — Flight Crew Standards & Licensing) for ELP and training guidance
   
• PARIKSHA — Flight Crew Notice Board for calendars, manuals, results and session notices
   
• DoT/WPC RTR page for current radiotelephony licensing information
   

If any private site says something, validate it against these. When in doubt, go by Rules/CAR/Official Notice — that’s what examiners and licensing officers go by too.

 

Final approach

Clearing CPL ground isn’t about being a trivia machine. It’s about turning complex information into decisions — legal, accurate, conservative when it must be, and assertive when it should be. If you stay close to the rules, build habits of interpretation rather than rote, and plan your admin alongside your study, the CPL exams stop being a wall and become a well-marked path.

Set your course, brief your plan, and roll. Wheels-up on the brainwork — the sky is waiting.

 

Frequently asked… and clearly answered

Is there negative marking?

DGCA doesn’t publish a negative-marking policy for CPL theory in the current public manuals; papers are scored out of 100 and 70% is a pass per official result postings. Always read the session-specific instructions before you sit. 

 

How often are sessions conducted?

DGCA announces each session via Public Notice/Notice Board. Check dates there rather than relying on hearsay. 

 

How long are passed papers valid?

Validity rules live in Schedule II and DGCA notices. Consult the Aircraft Rules page for your licence section and the latest exam circulars before planning long gaps between papers. 

 

Do I need to finish theory before flying training?

Not strictly, but many FTOs prefer a theory-first or mixed approach. From a learning perspective, finishing Regulations and Met early makes your flying safer and more efficient.

 

Where do I find official study references?

See DGCA/PARIKSHA for listings of reference material and align with your ground school’s latest notes. Treat older lists as orientation and cross-check with current CAR/Rules.

 

Disclaimer:

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, applicants are advised to refer to the official DGCA Pariksha portal and consult authorized professionals or aviation training institutions for guidance tailored to their specific cases. Wing Path and the authors are not responsible for any outcomes resulting from misinterpretation or misapplication of the information provided.