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🌏 Geography of Bihar Chapter 15: Air, Water Transport and Communication (वायु, जल परिवहन एवं संचार)

Module 1: Air Transport

📖 Chapter 15 of 17 🧩 Module 1 of 6 ⏱️ ~3 min read 💡 14 MCQs
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 1.1: Airports of Bihar

  • Current position (2025-26): Bihar has four airports with scheduled flights: Patna (Jayaprakash Narayan International; new terminal opened in 2025, capacity about 1 crore passengers a year), Gaya (international), Darbhanga (UDAN, since November 2020) and Purnia (interim terminal opened by the PM on 15 September 2025). A civil enclave at Bihta (₹1,413 crore) is being built as Patna's second airport.
  • As per the Bihar Economic Survey 2012-13, Bihar has two main airports, Patna and Gaya: Gaya is a small international airport and Patna a limited international airport, named Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport.
  • From Patna, Indian Airlines, Sahara, Jet Lite, Jet and Kingfisher ran only domestic flights (2013), with direct links to New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ranchi and Lucknow.
  • Bihta in Patna district has an Air Force airfield.
  • Bihar has 7 airports: Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Jogbani, Raxaul and Bihta. Small airports include Bhagalpur's Marfari airport.
Airports of Bihar
Figure: Airports of Bihar
⭐ Key Points
  • Purnia (interim terminal opened by the PM).
  • UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme).
  • Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport.
  • Seven.
  • Bihta.
  • Marfari.
  • Sasaram is not listed.
  • Limited international.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: Which Bihar airport began commercial flights on 15 September 2025? Answer: Purnia.
  • Question: Darbhanga airport started flights in 2020 under which scheme? Answer: UDAN.
  • Question: Patna airport is named after whom? Answer: Jayaprakash Narayan.
  • Question: How many airports does Bihar have? Answer: 7.
  • Question: Where is the Air Force airfield in Patna district? Answer: Bihta.
  • Question: Bhagalpur's small airport is called what? Answer: Marfari.
  • Question: Which of these is NOT among Bihar's 7 airports? Answer: Sasaram.
  • Question: Which status does Patna airport have per the Economic Survey 2012-13? Answer: Limited international.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Which Bihar airport began commercial flights on 15 September 2025?

Purnia (interim terminal opened by the PM).

Question 2: Darbhanga airport started flights in 2020 under which scheme?

UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme).

Question 3: Patna airport is named after whom?

Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport.

Question 4: How many airports does Bihar have?

Seven.

Question 5: Where is the Air Force airfield in Patna district?

Bihta.

Question 6: Bhagalpur's small airport is called what?

Marfari.

Question 7: Which of these is NOT among Bihar's 7 airports?

Sasaram is not listed.

Question 8: Which status does Patna airport have per the Economic Survey 2012-13?

Limited international.
Question 1 of 8

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which Bihar airport began commercial flights on 15 September 2025?

Purnia.

Darbhanga airport started flights in 2020 under which scheme?

UDAN.

Patna airport is named after whom?

Jayaprakash Narayan.

How many airports does Bihar have?

7.

Where is the Air Force airfield in Patna district?

Bihta.

Bhagalpur's small airport is called what?

Marfari.

Which of these is NOT among Bihar's 7 airports?

Sasaram.

Which status does Patna airport have per the Economic Survey 2012-13?

Limited international.
Question 1 of 8
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 1.2: Gaya International Airport and Air Traffic

  • International flights from Bihar began on 12 November 2002, with service between Gaya and Colombo (Sri Lanka); when the Sri Lankan Airlines plane landed, Gaya gained 'international airport' status.
  • Gaya was formally made an international airport in early 2008, serving foreign tourists coming to Bodhgaya from Colombo, Singapore and Bangkok.
  • Patna has the Patna Flying Club and a Gliding Club.
  • In five years, flights and air passengers grew about 2.5 times: from 4,44,458 in 2007-08 to 10,94,219 in 2011-12.
Growth of air passengers in Bihar
Figure: Growth of air passengers in Bihar
⭐ Key Points
  • 12 November 2002 (Gaya-Colombo).
  • Colombo.
  • Early 2008.
  • 10,94,219.
  • About 2.5 times.
  • Patna Flying Club and Gliding Club.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: When did international flights from Bihar begin? Answer: 12 November 2002.
  • Question: The first international flight from Gaya connected it to which city? Answer: Colombo.
  • Question: When was Gaya formally made an international airport? Answer: Early 2008.
  • Question: How many air passengers were there in 2011-12? Answer: 10,94,219.
  • Question: By about how much did air traffic grow in five years? Answer: 2.5 times.
  • Question: Which clubs are located in Patna? Answer: Flying club and gliding club.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: When did international flights from Bihar begin?

12 November 2002 (Gaya-Colombo).

Question 2: The first international flight from Gaya connected it to which city?

Colombo.

Question 3: When was Gaya formally made an international airport?

Early 2008.

Question 4: How many air passengers were there in 2011-12?

10,94,219.

Question 5: By about how much did air traffic grow in five years?

About 2.5 times.

Question 6: Which clubs are located in Patna?

Patna Flying Club and Gliding Club.
Question 1 of 6

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

When did international flights from Bihar begin?

12 November 2002.

The first international flight from Gaya connected it to which city?

Colombo.

When was Gaya formally made an international airport?

Early 2008.

How many air passengers were there in 2011-12?

10,94,219.

By about how much did air traffic grow in five years?

2.5 times.

Which clubs are located in Patna?

Flying club and gliding club.
Question 1 of 6