26 April 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC

1. UDAN Scheme – Connecting India, One Flight at a Time.

(Source – PIB 26th April 2025)

Topic: GS Paper 2 & 3– Governance, Government Schemes, Infrastructure Development, Economic Growth.

Context

Launched in 2016 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), UDAN (“Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik”) is India’s flagship program to make air travel accessible, affordable, and widespread — especially targeting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.  As UDAN completes 8 years, it showcases a major leap in regional connectivity, socio-economic growth, and aviation democratization.

1. Evolution and Achievements of UDAN Scheme

• Launch Date: 21 October 2016.
• First Flight: Shimla to Delhi on 27 April 2017.
• Operational Impact:
  • 625 routes operationalized.
  • 90 airports connected (including 2 water aerodromes and 15 heliports).
  • Over 1.49 crore passengers benefited with affordable regional air travel.
• Infrastructure Growth:
  • India’s airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 159 in 2024 — more than doubling.
• Financial Support:
  • ₹4,023.37 crore disbursed as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines.

2. Key Components of UDAN

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
  Financial aid to make flights commercially viable on underserved routes.
• Airfare Cap:
  Ensures affordable ticket pricing for citizens.
• Collaborative Governance:
  • Central Government, State Governments, Airport Authority of India (AAI), private operators jointly manage operations.
• Stakeholder Incentives:
  • Airport Operators: Waive landing and parking fees.
  • AAI: No Terminal Navigation Landing Charges (TNLC).
  • Central Government: Caps excise duty on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at 2% at RCS airports.
  • States: Reduce VAT on ATF to 1% or lower for 10 years.

3. Evolution Phases of UDAN Scheme

UDAN Phase	Key Features
UDAN 1.0 (2017)	128 routes awarded; 36 new airports.
UDAN 2.0 (2018)	Inclusion of 73 underserved airports; heliports introduced.
UDAN 3.0 (2019)	Tourism routes and seaplane operations initiated.
UDAN 4.0 (2020)	Focus on hilly, NE states, and island territories.
UDAN 5.5 (2024)	Expansion to 50+ water bodies for seaplanes.

 

4. Recent Innovations and Future Vision

• UDAN Yatri Cafes:
  Affordable food outlets launched at airports like Kolkata and Chennai.
• Seaplane Operations:
  • Guidelines issued for 50+ water bodies.
  • Focus on boosting last-mile connectivity.
• Revamped UDAN Scheme:
  • Target to connect 120 new destinations.
  • Enable affordable travel for 4 crore additional passengers over the next decade.
• Krishi UDAN:
  • Facilitates air cargo for agricultural produce from remote areas (58 airports involved).
• Airport Infrastructure Push:
  • Plan to build 50 new airports in next 5 years.
  • Major expansions in Bihar (Patna, Bihta).

5. Socio-Economic Impact of UDAN

• Boost to Regional Tourism:
  Enhanced air access led to tourism growth in hill states, coastal towns, and remote regions.
• Healthcare Accessibility:
  Faster connectivity improved medical emergencies and patient travel to metro cities.
• Trade and Agriculture:
  Faster movement of goods, perishable agricultural products via Krishi UDAN.
• Employment Generation:
  Growth of airports and ancillary services created numerous jobs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Conclusion

The UDAN Scheme has redefined India’s aviation landscape by making “hawai jahaz” travel affordable for the “hawai chappal” wearer. It embodies inclusive governance, regional empowerment, and infrastructural modernization. Going forward, UDAN’s expansion into hilly terrains, North-East India, and seaplane connectivity symbolizes India’s push toward holistic, equitable national growth.

Practice Question: “The democratization of air travel through initiatives like UDAN has expanded India’s aviation footprint, but challenges such as infrastructure gaps, financial sustainability, and environmental concerns persist. Critically examine the role of air connectivity in promoting regional development. Suggest a multi-pronged strategy to make India a global aviation hub while ensuring inclusivity and environmental sustainability.” (250 words / 15 marks)

Check this out 25 April 2025: PIB Summary For UPSC