Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever airport of which Indian state, giving this state its own operational airport for the first time?

Introduction / Context:
For a long time, Sikkim was the only Indian state without its own airport, and travellers had to rely on airports in neighbouring states and long road journeys. The inauguration of the first airport in such a state is therefore an important milestone in regional connectivity and development. This question asks you to identify which state received its first airport when it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The inauguration mentioned is of the first ever airport in a particular Indian state.
• The inauguration was carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The options list Odisha, Sikkim, Assam and Chhattisgarh as possible states.
• We assume a national current affairs context where the launch of new airports is widely reported.

Concept / Approach:
To answer, recall which state historically lacked an airport and gained one in recent years. Sikkim, a small Himalayan state in northeast India, did not have an airport for many decades. The construction of Pakyong Airport near Gangtok addressed this gap. The airport was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister, marking the first time Sikkim had an operational airport within its own territory. Other states listed in the options already had airports well before this event.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sikkim was long known as the only Indian state without its own airport. Step 2: Remember that Pakyong Airport was built in Sikkim and was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Step 3: Recognise that Odisha, Assam and Chhattisgarh already had functional airports before this event, such as Bhubaneswar, Guwahati and Raipur. Step 4: Check the options and confirm that Sikkim is listed among them. Step 5: Conclude that Sikkim is the state whose first ever airport was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward if you refer to news archives on Pakyong Airport. Reports clearly describe it as the first airport of Sikkim and document its inauguration ceremony. Aviation and infrastructure reports on Indian airports often mention Sikkim as a special case because it joined the list of states with airports only after Pakyong became operational.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Odisha has had Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar for many years. Assam has Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati as a major hub for the northeast region. Chhattisgarh has Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur. None of these states were without an airport when Pakyong Airport was opened, so they do not fit the description in the question.

Therefore, these alternatives cannot be correct for a question specifically about the first ever airport of a state.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse this event with the expansion or upgrade of existing airports in other states, or they may not recall which state previously lacked an airport. Another pitfall is to guess based on geographic location alone without remembering the specific news event. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to pay special attention to unique milestones such as a state receiving its first airport or railway connection.

Final Answer:
The first ever airport inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this context was in the state of Sikkim.