CURRENT AFFAIRS | MARCH 27, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase 1 of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Uttar Pradesh on March 28, 2026 — making it the second international airport for the Delhi-NCR region. Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at a cost of Rs 11,200 crore, the airport is being built by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG.
Key Facts About Noida International Airport
Phase 1 features a 3,900-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft, with a passenger handling capacity of 12 million passengers per annum (MPPA). The airport is planned in four phases, scalable to 70 MPPA with 6 runways upon full development. IndiGo will be the launch airline, with Akasa Air and Air India Express also planning operations.
Spread across 1,334 hectares, the terminal design draws inspiration from the heritage of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan — with references to the Taj Mahal and Kumbh Mela. The airport targets carbon net zero operations with sustainable design principles.
Constitutional Framework
Article 246 + Entry 29 (Union List): Airways, aircraft, aerodromes, and air navigation fall under the exclusive legislative competence of Parliament. This is why the Central Government regulates airport construction, licensing (DGCA), and security (BCAS).
Article 19(1)(d) and (e): Freedom of movement and residence across India — airports facilitate the exercise of these fundamental rights by enabling inter-state and international travel.
CLAT Angle: PPP Model and DPSP
Article 39(b) DPSP: Directs the State to ensure that ownership and control of material resources of the community are so distributed as to subserve the common good. The PPP model for airport development balances private efficiency with public accessibility — a key debate in CLAT Legal Reasoning passages.
Expect questions on: (i) Centre vs State jurisdiction over airports, (ii) PPP models and constitutional validity, (iii) eminent domain and land acquisition for infrastructure projects.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Location: Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Investment: Rs 11,200 crore (Phase 1)
- Developer: YIAPL (Zurich Airport International AG subsidiary)
- Capacity: 12 MPPA (Phase 1) → 70 MPPA (all 4 phases)
- Runway: 3,900 metres (wide-body capable)
- Area: 1,334 hectares
- Launch Airline: IndiGo
- Sustainability: Carbon net zero target
Mnemonic: J-E-W-A-R
- J — Jurisdiction under Union List (Entry 29)
- E — Eleven thousand two hundred crore investment
- W — Wide-body runway (3,900m)
- A — Article 39(b) — equitable resource distribution
- R — Rapid scalability (12 to 70 MPPA)
Test Your Knowledge
Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.
