India, Oct. 20 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The First Decade of UDAN
Connecting Regional India
Air connectivity plays an important role in regional development. It facilitates access to markets, supports tourism and expands economic opportunities. However, connecting remote and underserved areas remains important for ensuring wider access to air travel. Recognising this need, the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 prioritised affordable regional connectivity through financial support and infrastructure development.
In line with this objective, the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), also known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), was launched on 21 October 2016. The scheme anchors its ambition on a simple yet transformative premise: making affordable yet economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes.
As UDAN completes ten years, it has expanded regional air connectivity and improved access to air travel for citizens by connecting unserved and underserved airports. A recap of the past decade reflects the rapid expansion of India's civil aviation footprint. India is now the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, with operational airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 166 till date. At the heart of this, transformation lies the UDAN scheme.
Building on this progress, the next phase of UDAN was launched on 4 July 2026. The scheme now places greater emphasis on Centre-State/UTs partnerships. It will be complemented by a Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development dedicated to identifying airstrips and helipads. Together, these measures will further expand regional aviation infrastructure.
UDAN entered its operational stage with the inauguration of the first RCS-UDAN flight from Shimla to Delhi in April 2017. Since then, the scheme has expanded regional air connectivity.
The scheme uses market-based selection, airfare caps, concessions, and Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to encourage airline participation. As of 15 October 2026, Rs 5091.23 crore has been disbursed under VGF.
Alongside expansion of civil aviation, sectoral jobs have grown from around 3 million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million in 2026. Additionally, it has the potential to reach 25 million by 2040.
North-Eastern Region under UDAN
Due to the difficult hilly terrain, the north-eastern states remain under-connected, which makes strengthening air connectivity an important development priority.
Transitioning to Next Phase of UDAN
Since its inception, RCS-UDAN has released multiple versions of the scheme. Building on the achievements under it, the next phase of UDAN Scheme was formally launched on 4 July 2026. The scheme will be implemented in ten years, from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore. The focus is now on building an ecosystem towards facilitating Made in India Civil aircraft.
The scheme emphasises affordable air travel, sustainable regional aviation operations, aerodrome development through a Challenge Mode framework, and indigenous aircraft manufacturing.
The Modified UDAN Scheme introduces targeted measures to support sustainable growth and long-term viability of regional aviation.
The Next Phase Takes Shape
In the next phase of UDAN, the scheme will have a three-pronged approach focusing on strengthening Centre-State/UT partnerships, creating aviation infrastructure and expanding regional air connectivity.
Regional Changes under UDAN
The operationalisation of regional airports under UDAN has driven socio-economic transformation across regional hubs, boosting local trade, medical access, tourism, and employment.
Purnea Airport in Bihar
Prior to 2025, residents of the Seemanchal and Kosi regions, including Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Bhagalpur, were required to travel over 200 km to Bagdogra Airport for air connectivity. Journeys to major cities such as Kolkata and Patna often involved arduous road travel of 10 hours and 8 hours, respectively. Despite being a prominent agricultural hub known for products such as makhana, litchi, and vegetables, the region lacked direct air connectivity and air cargo facilities, constraining its economic potential. The operationalization of Purnea Airport in 2025 transformed regional connectivity by providing air access to more than 10 districts of Bihar. Travel time to Kolkata has been reduced to nearly 2 hours and to Patna to about 1 hour, significantly improving accessibility for residents, businesses, and institutions. The airport, equipped with Bihar's longest runway of approximately 2.8 km capable of handling A320 and B737 aircraft, has strengthened the region's integration with major economic centres. Furthermore, the enhanced connectivity has stimulated local economic activity.
Tezu Airport in Arunachal Pradesh
Situated in India's easternmost frontier near the China border, the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh previously lacked air connectivity. It forced residents to undertake journeys of over 10+ hours across 164 km to Dibrugarh or 610 km to Guwahati for flights and medical emergencies. Operationalised in 2021, Tezu Airport now connects over 2 lakh people in this remote territory. The airport has reduced travel time to Guwahati to 1 hour. The facility has enabled air cargo exports for agricultural produce such as ginger, cardamom, and rice.
Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand
Prior to July 2022, reaching Deoghar required arduous journeys of over 15 hours from Delhi or 7.5 hours from Kolkata by road or rail. Pilgrims visiting Baba Baidyanath Dham were forced to travel more than 150 km to 200 km to reach the nearest operational airports in Ranchi or Patna. The opening of Deoghar Airport drastically cut travel time from Delhi to just 2 hours. Post July 2022, over 10 lakh+ pilgrims fly directly to Deoghar annually. The airport provides direct access for 50+ lakh devotees visiting during the peak Kanwar Yatra month. Furthermore, the airport has promoted medical tourism by facilitating patient travel to AIIMS Deoghar from East India. Additionally, it has boosted local hospitality, leading to the establishment of over 30+ new hotels.
Kishangarh Airport in Rajasthan
Before direct air access in 2017, travellers in Kishangarh, Ajmer, and Pushkar travelled 100+ km to Jaipur for flights. This bottleneck affected the region's marble hub business. It also impacted over 2 crore annual pilgrims visiting Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Pushkar Temple. Post 2017, direct air cargo connectivity has enabled marble exports to Italy, the UAE, and the USA. In 2022, the airport hosted Avyanna Aviation Academy, the region's only Category 'A' Flying Training Organisation (FTO). The airport generated 200+ direct jobs. It also spurred a 40-50% rise in local real estate values.
The Horizon Ahead
UDAN has spent the last decade redefining India's regional connectivity by operationalising routes and aerodromes and carrying crores of passengers. The next phase of regional aviation will depend on developing infrastructure that supports reliable and sustained operations across diverse geographies. Through the Modified UDAN Scheme, the focus extends to aerodrome development, operational support and indigenous aviation capacity. These measures seek to address the infrastructure and viability challenges of regional air travel. They aim to create a stronger foundation for connectivity across India.
References
Cabinet
Ministry of Civil Aviation
PIB Backgrounders
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PIB Research
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
