India, Sept. 1 -- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will conduct additional 15% safety surveillance this year as part of its annual surveillance programme for aviation companies in India, with the development coming after the risk of mid-air collisions in Indian skies remained above acceptable benchmarks in the previous year, officials aware of the matter said.

According to DGCA's 2025 surveillance schedule, reviewed by HT, the number of checks - pertaining to aircraft maintenance, pilot standards and airport safety, among others - will rise to 4,630 this year from 4,027 in 2024.

The annual safety exercise assumes greater significance in the wake of Air India Boeing 787-8 crash - one of India's deadliest air crashes - in ...