UDAN Scheme 10-Year Achievement Report
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 the decade, UDAN has facilitated more than 3.68 lakh flights carrying 1.72 crore passengers, with ₹5,091.23 crore disbursed as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines as of 15 October 2026.
Regional Impact and Infrastructure Development
The scheme has driven substantial socio-economic transformation across regional hubs, improving access to tourism, medical facilities, agricultural trade, and local employment. Operational airports in India have increased from 74 in 2014 to 166 currently, with aviation sector jobs growing from approximately 3 million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million in 2026, with potential to reach 25 million by 2040. The North-Eastern region received particular focus, with 90 priority RCS routes operationalized and 52 aerodromes identified, of which 12 have been operationalized.
Modified UDAN Scheme Next Phase
On 4 July 2026, the government launched the next phase of UDAN 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 allocation, development of 200 modern helipads at ₹15 crore each (total ₹3,661 crore), and ₹10,043 crore allocated for VGF to airlines over ten years with tapered support from the third year.
Indigenous Aviation Development
The scheme supports Atmanirbhar Bharat through ₹400 crore allocation for two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air, aiming to strengthen connectivity in remote areas and challenging terrain while promoting indigenous aviation manufacturing.
Regional Success Stories
Specific airports demonstrated transformative impact: Purnea Airport (Bihar) reduced travel time to Kolkata from 10 hours to 2 hours and serves 10+ districts with a 2.8 km runway capable of handling A320/B737 aircraft. Tezu Airport (Arunachal Pradesh) reduced travel time to Guwahati from 10+ hours to 1 hour and enables air cargo exports of agricultural produce. Deoghar Airport (Jharkhand) serves over 10 lakh pilgrims annually and reduced Delhi travel time from 15+ hours to 2 hours. Kishangarh Airport (Rajasthan) enabled marble exports to Italy, UAE, and USA, generated 200+ direct jobs, and spurred 40-50% rise in local real estate values.