What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

Do NOT assume DGCA has the power to cap airfares. The article explicitly states 'no regulatory authority vested with power to review or cap airfares'. A common trap: asking 'Which body regulates airfares?' – answer is 'None currently' or 'No such body exists yet'. Also, note that the new rules are under the 2024 Act, not the old Aircraft Act.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Act: Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 (new aviation law, replacing Aircraft Act, 1934) 2. Target this Data: Fuel component = maximum 10% of airfare (as per petitioner's affidavit) 3. Target this Body: DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) – regulator, but lacks fare-capping powers

PolityEconomy

Take AI Challenge ▸

News 23 of 30

SC Directs Centre to Submit Draft Aviation Rules Under Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 to Curb Airfare Volatility

Q: Which statutory body is primarily responsible for the regulation of civil aviation in India?

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), The DGCA is the statutory regulator under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, responsible for safety, airworthiness, and air transport matters. The article mentions DGCA as the regulator issuing directions (later kept in abeyance). AAI manages airports, BCAS handles security, and the Ministry is the policy-making body.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the news on aviation rules: 1. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to place the draft aviation rules in a sealed cover before the court. 2. The new rules are being framed under the Aircraft Act, 1934. 3. The petitioner argued that the draft rules must be published for public consultation before being tabled in Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: the SC granted two weeks to place the rules in sealed cover. Statement 2 is incorrect: the rules are under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, not the Aircraft Act, 1934. Statement 3 is correct: senior advocate Ravindra Srivastava argued that under the 2024 Act, public consultation must precede tabling. Hence option C.

Q: According to the petitioner's affidavit cited in the article, what is the maximum share of fuel cost in an airfare?

10%, The article states: 'the fuel component constituted no more than 10% of the airfare, even though fares had risen exponentially.' The other options are distractors; the correct data point is exactly 10% as per the affidavit.

Q: What is the primary objective of the PIL filed by S. Laxminarayan as described in the news?

To seek formulation of binding regulatory norms to curb arbitrary airfare pricing and ancillary charges, The PIL specifically sought 'the formulation of binding regulatory norms to address arbitrary airfare pricing and ancillary charges imposed by private airlines during festive periods, holidays, and emergencies.' Option A is incorrect as the PIL does not challenge the Act; C is too narrow; D is not mentioned. The core demand is for a robust fare-regulation mechanism.

Polity EconomySUPPORT

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

13 Jul 2026

~2 min

Source: The Hindu

Key Data:Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024Fuel component ~10%60% seats without selection fee (kept in abeyance)Next hearing August 3, 2026

Bodies:Supreme CourtDGCAUnion Government

Practice MCQs from today's news ▸

~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.SC grants two weeks to Centre to place draft aviation rules (under 2024 Act) in sealed cover; oral mention of upcoming monsoon session (July 21).

2.Petitioner argued that rules must first be published for public consultation before tabling in Parliament, a point the Bench found merit in.

3.Examiner angle: Judicial activism to fill regulatory vacuum – DGCA's inaction and government withholding of passenger-friendly directions (60% seats without selection fee) are key issues.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to submit new draft aviation rules (framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024) in a sealed cover within two weeks, amid concerns over predatory airfare pricing. The PIL highlights that no regulatory authority currently exists to cap airfares, allowing airlines to exploit passengers, especially during festivals and emergencies.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Act InvolvedBharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024

Deadline for CentreTwo weeks (sealed cover submission)

Fuel Component in Airfare (as per petition)Maximum 10%

DGCA Direction Kept in Abeyance60% seats without selection fee

Next Hearing DateAugust 3, 2026

1-Minute Revision

›Act Involved: Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024
›Deadline for Centre: Two weeks (sealed cover submission)
›Target this Act: Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 (new aviation law, replacing Aircraft Act, 1934)
›Target this Data: Fuel component = maximum 10% of airfare (as per petitioner's affidavit)
›Target this Body: DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) – regulator, but lacks fare-capping powers

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

News Snapshot

⚖️

Supreme Court Order

SC grants two weeks to Centre to submit draft aviation rules in sealed cover, acknowledging need to review before Parliament tabling.

📜

Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024

New aviation law replacing previous framework; rules under it are finalised but still under translation for Parliament.

💰

Airfare Exploitation

No regulatory body with power to cap fares; fuel component only 10% but fares rise 100-300% during festivals/emergencies.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

A PIL filed by social activist S. Laxminarayan highlights the complete absence of a regulatory mechanism to control airfare surges. Airlines exploit festive seasons, holidays, and geopolitical events (e.g., Strait of Hormuz tension) to hike fares arbitrarily. The Union government had earlier kept in abeyance a DGCA direction mandating 60% seats without selection fee and adjacent seating for same-PNR passengers, indicating a policy flip-flop.

Core Analysis & Implications

The Supreme Court's insistence on seeing the rules before Parliament tabling underlines judicial scrutiny of executive delay. The petitioner's argument that draft rules must undergo public consultation under the 2024 Act before being tabled is legally significant – it ensures transparency and stakeholder input. The DGCA's inability to regulate fares and the government's withdrawal of its own limited directions point to a regulatory vacuum that disproportionately harms economically weaker passengers.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The court will examine the rules on August 3, 2026. If the rules lack fare-regulating provisions or ignore public consultation, the court may direct a more robust independent regulatory framework. The matter also raises the need for a sector-specific regulator like the proposed Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with statutory powers to fix fare bands, enforce service standards, and penalise predatory pricing.

Key Facts at a Glance

Act InvolvedBharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024

Deadline for CentreTwo weeks (sealed cover submission)

Fuel Component in Airfare (as per petition)Maximum 10%

DGCA Direction Kept in Abeyance60% seats without selection fee

Next Hearing DateAugust 3, 2026

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, Banking, State PSC

Which statutory body is primarily responsible for the regulation of civil aviation in India?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the news on aviation rules:

1. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to place the draft aviation rules in a sealed cover before the court.

2. The new rules are being framed under the Aircraft Act, 1934.

3. The petitioner argued that the draft rules must be published for public consultation before being tabled in Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

According to the petitioner's affidavit cited in the article, what is the maximum share of fuel cost in an airfare?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC, State PSC

What is the primary objective of the PIL filed by S. Laxminarayan as described in the news?

All 15 MCQs ▸

Read original article from The Hindu

You finished this topic

Practice 3 MCQs from this news Next Article

Explore Related Topics

PolityView Topic MCQs →EconomyView Topic MCQs →

PreviousJNTBGRI Decline Threatens Kerala's Bio-Economy: Basic Research Erosion, Politicisation Next CAG Flags ₹3,541 Crore Excess Spend in Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme, Highlights Budgetary Lapses

Related Current Affairs

Polity Current Affairs

SC Directs TN on Fishing Vessel Transit Rules Under Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020

The Supreme Court has directed Tamil Nadu to create a 'specified channel' for fishing vessels transiting to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020. This judgment upholds both State and Central laws governing purse seine fishing, emphasizing co-operative federalism and addressing the conflict between territorial waters regulation and EEZ access.

Polity Current Affairs

Tata Trusts’ 66% Stake & Affirmative Voting Rights under Articles 104B, 121: SC Verdict Explained

Tata Trusts, holding about 66% of Tata Sons, are challenging the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman, citing the affirmative voting rights of their nominee directors under the Articles of Association. The Supreme Court’s 2021 Tata-Mistry judgment upheld these special rights, making it the key legal backdrop to the current boardroom dispute. For exams, this news tests corporate governance, fiduciary duties, and the binding force of a company’s Articles.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Upholds NCLAT Order Setting Aside CCI's ₹301.6 Cr Penalty on Grasim

The Supreme Court upheld the NCLAT order setting aside CCI's ₹301.6 crore penalty on Grasim Industries for alleged abuse of dominance in the viscose staple fibre market. The Court affirmed that CCI violated natural justice by not providing a hearing after differing from the Director General's findings.

Environment Current Affairs

SC Directs Disconnection of Power/Water for Non-Compliant Bulk Waste Generators Under SWM Rules 2026

The Supreme Court has empowered District Collectors to order temporary disconnection of power and water supply for Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) that fail to comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. This landmark directive also mandates integrating waste management education into school and college curricula, making students 'household-level supervisors' for rule implementation.

Polity Current Affairs

PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Balance Hits Record ₹8,452 Cr; No Questions in Lok Sabha

PM CARES Fund, a public charitable trust set up in 2020 for COVID-19 relief, saw donations plunge to ₹479.96 crore in FY2024-25 while its closing balance hit a record ₹8,452.06 crore. Spending fell to a five-year low of ₹87.85 lakh. The PMO has informed Lok Sabha that questions on PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF are not admissible under parliamentary rules as they are funded by voluntary contributions, not from the Consolidated Fund of India.

Polity Current Affairs

Centre Seeks SC Exemption for CSE 2025, 2026 from OBC Creamy Layer Income Test Retroactivity

The Centre has urged the Supreme Court to keep CSE 2025 and 2026 out of the Rohith Nathan judgment's retrospective operation, allowing the older OBC creamy layer income test to continue. It warns that retrospective application would hit 3.7 lakh OBC recruitments since 2016 and trigger widespread litigation across Railways, Banks, Posts and paramilitary.

Polity Current Affairs

₹1,700 Cr Donations to 6 RUPPs: Need for De-Registration Powers to EC

An investigation revealed that six Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) in Gujarat received ₹1,700 crore in donations in 2023-24, exceeding the combined donations of all national parties except the BJP. This highlights regulatory gaps that allow RUPPs to be used as conduits for tax evasion and money laundering. The article examines the need for the Election Commission to have de-registration powers and suggests a vote threshold for tax exemptions to curb misuse.

Polity Current Affairs

Parliament Passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Act 2026 Overriding SC Ruling, Extinguishes Rs 2 Lakh Cr Dues

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 restricts states from imposing specified levies on mineral rights and extinguishes ~Rs 2 lakh crore in unpaid dues. Mineral-rich states like Odisha and Jharkhand oppose it as a blow to federal fiscal autonomy, potentially losing thousands of crores annually. This reverses the financial impact of a landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling that had empowered states to tax mineral-bearing lands.

Start Today's Quiz(15 Qs)

Take Today's Quiz

15 Qs • 5-7 Mins

SC Directs Centre to Submit Draft Aviation Rules Under Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 to Curb Airfare Volatility

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Supreme Court Order

Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024

Airfare Exploitation

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance