AERA (Amendment) Bill, 2021 

---

• The Parliament passed the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 after the Rajya Sabha approved it after a brief discussion amid protests by the opposition on various issues. 

Key Highlights: 

• Bill was tabled by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and was passed in the Lok Sabha in June 2021. 

• Now, it will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent. 

• The AERA bill proposes to amend the definition of ‘major airport’ in accordance with the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act, 2008 (AERA Act). 

• Bill seeks to aid the government’s plan of privatization of smaller airports under its asset monetization programme that was announced during the union budget for 2021-22. 

• It also promises to help in faster development of small airports and expediting regional air connectivity UDAN scheme by expanding air connectivity in remote areas. 

• Amendment will enable AERA to regulate tariff and other charges of aeronautical services for major airports with annual passenger traffic of more than 3.5 million as well as a group of airports together.

About Airports Economic Regulatory Authority

• Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is a regulatory agency that regulates tariffs and other expenditures & fees of major airports in India. 

• This statutory body was established under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act (AERA), 2008