INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO)
1. Basic Overview
- Established: 1944
- Members: 193 countries
- Nature: United Nations Specialized Agency
- Linked to: UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
2. Origin & Legal Basis
- Originates from the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention
- Chicago Conference:
- Place: Chicago, USA
- Duration: 1 November – 7 December 1944
- The Chicago Convention laid the foundation for:
- International civil aviation rules
- Creation of ICAO
3. Organizational Structure
(a) Secretary General
- Chief Executive Officer of ICAO
- Current Secretary General: Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar (Colombia)
(b) ICAO Assembly
- Supreme (sovereign) body of ICAO
- Composition: All 193 Member States
- Frequency: Meets once every three years
- Responsible for:
- Electing the ICAO Council
- Setting overall policy directions
(c) ICAO Council
- Members: 36 countries
- Elected by: ICAO Assembly
- Tenure: 3 years
- Role: Governing body responsible for:
- Adoption of international aviation standards
- Oversight of ICAO’s work
4. India and ICAO
- India is a founding member of ICAO (since 1944)
- India is NOT a permanent member, but:
- Has been a key and continuous Council member
- India’s Council Presence:
- Uninterrupted membership for 81 years
- Reflects India’s global role in civil aviation
5. Current Affairs (Important for Exams)
ICAO Council Election – 2025
- Event: India re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council
- Occasion: 42nd ICAO Assembly Session
- Venue: Montreal, Canada
- Date: September 2025
- Term: 2025–2028
- India secured more votes than in the 2022 elections
Diplomatic Effort
- Minister for Civil Aviation: Shri Rammohan Naidu
- Actively sought support of ICAO Member States for:
- India’s re-election to the Council
6. ICAO Council – Part II (Exam Pointer)
- Part II countries:
- States that make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation
- India’s election reflects:
- Technical capability
- Infrastructure strength
- Aviation leadership
7. India’s Commitments for ICAO Council (2025–2028)
India reaffirmed commitment to:
- Strengthening international aviation safety, security, and sustainability
- Promoting equitable growth in global air connectivity
- Advancing aviation technology and innovation
- Supporting ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind (NCLB)” initiative
8. Key Exam Takeaways (Prelims Ready)
- ICAO HQ → Montreal, Canada
- ICAO linked to → ECOSOC
- ICAO established → 1944
- Members → 193
- Governing body → 36-member Council
- India → Founding member, uninterrupted Council presence
- Current Secretary General → Juan Carlos Salazar
- Assembly frequency → Once every 3 years
Updated – 15 January 2026 | 09:30 AM | News Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)