NEW DELHI: Senior IAS officer Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has been appointed as new Director-General (DG) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Kidwai, who is presently serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He is a 1996-batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre.

He has been appointed as Director General in the DGCA "in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India by keeping the Recruitment Rules of the post in abeyance", an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

Kidwai faces many key challenges in DGCA, including resolving disputes over pilot duty and rest norms.