New Delhi, Feb. 19 -- India's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is seeking a shift to a self-sustaining funding model- including a share of passenger fees- as part of a broader push to reduce dependence on budgetary support and gain greater institutional autonomy, according to a senior government official and a copy of the proposal reviewed by Mint.

The proposal, submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in December, seeks to give India's aviation watchdog greater financial and operational independence at a time when fleet expansion is accelerating and staffing shortages remain acute.

The proposal also seeks a share of passenger fees charged at airports to help the DGCA meet its financial requ...