DGCA CPL Exam Syllabus: Subjects and Topics
The five CPL ground papers and a topic-by-topic breakdown of the four taught at TrueHeading, each linked to practice questions and key concepts.
Written by Nikunj Kariya, DGCA ground instructor at TrueHeading
Updated 9 October 2026
CPL ground exam papers
The DGCA CPL theory exam is made up of subject-wise papers. You clear each subject on its own, and the pass mark commonly reported is 70% per subject.
| Subject | What it covers | TrueHeading coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Air Navigation | Charts, wind triangles, flight planning, radio aids and flight instruments, taught one-on-one by Nikunj Kariya until the calculations feel routine. | 14 topics · 1,532 questions |
| Aviation Meteorology | Atmosphere, clouds, winds, fronts, weather reports and aviation hazards, explained one-on-one so the weather makes sense instead of piling up as facts. | 15 topics · 1,100 questions |
| Air Regulations | Rules of the air, the ICAO framework, licensing, air traffic services and operational requirements, organised so that the rules are connected rather than a list of numbers. | 12 topics · 1,316 questions |
| Technical General | Aerodynamics, airframes, engines, aircraft systems, instruments and performance, taught one-on-one with diagrams and worked numbers. | 27 topics · 1,226 questions |
| Technical Specific | The specific aircraft type you train on. | Not taught. Use your flying school's type material. |
| RTR(A) | Radio telephony phraseology, readbacks and procedures. A separate exam. | Taught live in the Radio Telephony class. |
A study guide, not the official syllabus. The topic lists below show how TrueHeading organises its classes and question bank. Check the official DGCA website for the official syllabus. Last reviewed 9 October 2026.
Aviation Meteorology syllabus topics
15 topics · 1,100 practice questions
Atmosphere, clouds, winds, fronts, weather reports and aviation hazards, explained one-on-one so the weather makes sense instead of piling up as facts.
Air Regulations syllabus topics
12 topics · 1,316 practice questions
Rules of the air, the ICAO framework, licensing, air traffic services and operational requirements, organised so that the rules are connected rather than a list of numbers.
Technical General syllabus topics
27 topics · 1,226 practice questions
Aerodynamics, airframes, engines, aircraft systems, instruments and performance, taught one-on-one with diagrams and worked numbers.
Common questions
How many subjects are there in the DGCA CPL ground exam?
Five theory papers: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General and Technical Specific. RTR(A) is a separate radio telephony exam.
Is this the official DGCA syllabus?
No. The topic lists on this page show how TrueHeading organises its question bank and classes. They are a study guide. Always check the official DGCA syllabus.
Which CPL subject is the hardest?
It depends on the student. Air Navigation takes the most practice because it is calculation-heavy, while Regulations rewards steady reading and revision.
What is the pass mark for each subject?
The pass mark commonly reported is 70% per subject. Check the official DGCA notices for the current rule.