The DGCA uses my FAA license, and yep 3 years is the validity, but they will only accept it was 3 years from date of license issue.
I called the FAA they said what people are doing is every year they pay to get a new license issued, it then gets a new date stamp on it and the gods of aviation in India will be happy.
In the meantime we are all off to get a hinglish test... its going to be fun!