Rajasthan HC Clears Airbase Near Pak Border, Securing India's Defence

• Rajasthan High Court approved a new Forward Composite Aviation Base (FCAB) near the India-Pakistan border in Sri Ganganagar, dismissing land acquisition challenges.
• The airbase, 40 km from the border, will enable swift deployment of Indian fighter jets to Pakistani airbases like Jacobabad, Bholari, and Rahim Yar Khan.
• Justice Nupur Bhati's bench ruled national security and public interest take precedence over individual concerns, rejecting petitions from 58 farmers.
• This decision contrasts with opposition to an army base near the strategic Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) in Kishanganj, Bihar.
• AIMIM MLA Tauseef Alam and others oppose the Chicken's Neck base, citing dense population, farmers, and mosques, despite its critical defence importance.

Why It Matters: Rajasthan HC prioritizes national security for a border airbase, setting a precedent for critical defence projects.