On October 9, 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Cabinet approved the proposal to rename Noida International Airport at Jewar as Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar. The state government said the proposed name – Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar – will reflect the contributions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in public life and the development of Uttar Pradesh. But the Cabinet’s decision raises the question of whether a state government can on its own decide to change the name of an airport or whether the final authority is with the Union Government, under whose jurisdiction it falls. The normal process for naming airports in India involves central and state governments.
What Has the Uttar Pradesh Government Decided?
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has passed a resolution to suggest to change the name of Noida International Airport to Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar. The proposal was made after the Noida International Airport was inaugurated in early 2026 and is an attempt by the Uttar Pradesh government to honour the work done by the Prime Minister on big-ticket infrastructure projects in the state.
While the Cabinet decision is a significant milestone, it does not represent the last stage of renaming. Even the announcement by the state government states that what they have agreed upon is a recommendation and subsequent formal procedures under the airport renaming rule need to be followed. The legal and operational name of the airport does not change simply because the state cabinet has decided to go ahead.
Who Has the Legal Authority to Rename an Airport in India?
In India, airports are usually named through a procedure prescribed by the State Government with the approval of the Union Government. As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s clarification to the Parliament, airports are usually named after the city they serve unless a State Government suggests a different name by passing a resolution in their Legislative Assembly.
The change is then ratified by the Union Cabinet after consultation with the appropriate Central Ministries and Departments. The last change is done with the publication of the dedicated government notification. This process implies that a State Cabinet can’ t usually make a change of a major airport. Its work is to begin and endorse the suggestion, yet the Union Government settles on the last choice through the typical cycle.
Why Is a State Legislative Assembly Resolution Important?
A resolution passed by the State Legislative Assembly provides formal legislative support for the proposed name. It records the state’s position and communicates the proposal to the Union Government for consideration. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has referred to this requirement in its parliamentary response concerning the proposed naming of Navi Mumbai International Airport after Loknete D. B. Patil.
So the process appears to be a series of individual steps. The State Government puts forward the name, the State Legislature passes a resolution to that effect, the Union Cabinet considers the proposal (after taking advice from the appropriate organs of the Union Government) and the notification is made. These steps are significant because in the case of a political declaration or a Cabinet resolution at the state level is not a legal renaming process.
What Does the Constitution Say About Airport Naming?
Moreover, the Constitution does not have even a single constitutional provision that automatically sets out the entire naming or renaming process for all airports in India. The process is thus, functioning through administrative power of the Union Government in civil aviation and Union Cabinet’s tradition to consider state proposals.
3.1.3 The Union Government’s responsibility for key civil aviation concerns – such as airport licensing and aviation safety – is handled through the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. With respect to the naming of airports, the granting of an aerodrome licence is distinct from the licensing of their operations. A change of name cannot be assumed to have been legally completed when a new aerodrome licence has been granted. Noida International Airport was granted an aerodrome licence in March 2026.
Has the Jewar Airport Name Officially Changed?
According to the October 9 declaration, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet had approved a recommendation for the new name. Reports that have appeared so far have not shown that all later stages, including the final Union Cabinet approval and official notification, have been carried out. It is therefore too early to refer to the airport’s authoritatively implemented official name as Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar solely because of state Cabinet approval.
The following phase is the completion of the stipulated process at the state and central levels. This case demonstrates the distinction between a political decision made by a government to suggest a name and the procedural process that leads to the formal adoption of that decision. Until such final formalities are completed, the suggestion is subject to the existing airport renaming process.
