LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh has received the national award for ‘Most Proactive State’ under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–UDAN in the Non-Priority Area category, state officials said on Thursday.The award recognises states that are neither hill states nor part of the North-East and marks a major milestone for Uttar Pradesh’s aviation push under chief minister Yogi Adityanath. With a strong focus on connectivity-led development, the state has rapidly expanded air links, especially to smaller cities, firmly placing itself on India’s aviation map.Director of Civil Aviation, Uttar Pradesh, Ishan Pratap Singh said the impact of these policies is clearly visible in passenger numbers. “In 2016, the state handled 59.97 lakh air passengers. This rose to over 1.28 crore in 2024 and further crossed 1.55 crore in 2025,” he said.Domestic air travel has seen particularly strong growth. Uttar Pradesh has also recorded sharp growth in air cargo movement during the Yogi government’s tenure. Cargo volumes increased from 5,895 metric tonnes in 2016 to 27,998 metric tonnes in 2024 and further to 29,761 metric tonnes in 2025. This represents a CAGR of 17.58 per cent over nine years and has provided a major boost to agriculture, MSMEs and export-oriented industries.The development of new and regional airports, including the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar, is further strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s position as a key aviation and logistics hub.