UDAN SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Infrastructure (Govt. policies)

Context: The Indian government plans to extend the regional air connectivity scheme by an additional ten years, according to Civil Aviation Minister.

UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik)

• About: UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the Government of India (GoI).
• Launched: In 2017. The scheme is a component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016. Over the period of 6 years, various versions of UDAN Scheme were launched.
• Nodal Agency:  Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Objective: To develop a regional aviation market. It seeks to connect under-served and unserved airports in India through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
• Financial Incentives: Under the Udan scheme, financial incentives—through viability gap funding—are extended from the Centre, state governments, and airport operators to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports.

Impact of the UDAN Scheme: 

• Some routes have been discontinued due to low passenger load factors, airline shutdowns, and visibility issues at VFR (Visual Flight Rules) airports.
• The inclusion of seaplane operations under the UDAN scheme is expected to enhance tourism and support critical activities such as research, environmental monitoring, and coastal management.
• The scheme is a significant step towards improving regional air connectivity and infrastructure development, contributing to broader economic growth.