IAS officer Nasim Zaidi was appointed as the new Director General of Civil Aviation on Monday. A 1976batch UP cadre, Zaidi is also India's representative at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Zaidi did not have the 12-year experience in civil aviation needed by an IAS officer to become eligible for the DGCA’s post. The Ministry, with the Union Public Service Commission board’s approval, had reduced the eligibility criteria by changing some clauses.This was done to help the government find a suitable candidate.