UDAN Scheme 10-Year Achievements and Next Phase Launch

The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme completed ten years of operation in 2026, having significantly expanded India's regional aviation network since its launch on 21 October 2016. The scheme has operationalized 687 regional routes across India and 95 aerodromes, including 17 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. Over 3.68 lakh flights have been operated under the scheme, carrying 1.72 crore passengers. The scheme has disbursed ₹5,091.23 crore in Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines as of 15 October 2026.

Regional Impact and Employment Generation

The scheme has driven socio-economic transformation across regional hubs, supporting tourism, medical access, agricultural trade, and local employment. Aviation sector jobs have grown from approximately 3 million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million in 2026, with potential to reach 25 million by 2040. Specific regional impacts include Purnea Airport in Bihar reducing travel time to Kolkata from 10 hours to 2 hours and to Patna from 8 hours to 1 hour; Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh connecting over 2 lakh people in remote territory; Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand serving over 10 lakh pilgrims annually; and Kishangarh Airport in Rajasthan enabling marble exports and generating 200+ direct jobs.

Northeast Region Focus

In the North-Eastern States, 90 priority RCS routes have been operationalized under UDAN. Of 52 identified aerodromes including heliports and water aerodromes in the region, 12 have been operationalized, addressing connectivity challenges in difficult hilly terrain.

Modified UDAN Scheme (2026-2036)

The next phase of UDAN was launched on 4 July 2026 with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore to be implemented over ten years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36. The modified scheme emphasizes Centre-State/UT partnerships, with 21 MoUs signed between the Government, participating States/UTs, and the Airports Authority of India. Key components include development of 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips with an outlay of ₹12,159 crore over eight years (₹100 crore per airport); three years of Operation and Maintenance support for approximately 441 aerodromes with ₹2,577 crore outlay (capped at ₹3.06 crore per airport/year); development of 200 modern helipads at ₹15 crore each with ₹3,661 crore total outlay; and ₹10,043 crore VGF allocation over ten years for airlines with tapered support from third year. The scheme also allocates ₹400 crore for two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air to support indigenous aviation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Institutional Framework

The scheme introduces a Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development that enables State Governments and UT Administrations to nominate airstrips and helipads for development based on local requirements and connectivity potential. The operational airports in India have increased from 74 in 2014 to 166 currently, making India the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.