The Ministry of Civil Aviation celebrated the 9th anniversary of the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2025. Launched on October 21, 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, UDAN has operationalised 649 routes connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. Over 1.56 crore passengers have been facilitated through 3.23 lakh UDAN flights. The government has disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and invested ₹4,638 crore in airport development. UDAN 5.5 was recently launched as a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters, with Letters of Intent issued for 150 routes. The Ministry has committed to extend the scheme beyond April 2027 through an Expanded UDAN Framework targeting 120 new destinations.
UDAN Scheme Completes 9 Years: 649 Routes, 93 Airports, 1.56 Crore Passengers Served
The Ministry of Civil Aviation celebrated the 9th anniversary of the Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2025. Launched on October 21, 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, UDAN has operationalised 649 routes connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. Over 1.56 crore passengers have been facilitated through 3.23 lakh UDAN flights. The government has disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and invested ₹4,638 crore in airport development. UDAN 5.5 was recently launched as a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters, with Letters of Intent issued for 150 routes. The Ministry has committed to extend the scheme beyond April 2027 through an Expanded UDAN Framework targeting 120 new destinations.
Key facts
- UDAN scheme completed 9 years on October 21, 2025, having been launched under the National Civil Aviation Policy.
- The scheme has operationalised 649 routes connecting 93 airports including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
- Over 1.56 crore passengers have been served through 3.23 lakh UDAN flights.
- Government disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding and ₹4,638 crore in airport development.
- UDAN 5.5 was launched as a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters with 150 route LOIs.
- The scheme will extend beyond April 2027 through an Expanded UDAN Framework targeting 120 new destinations.
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Under which national policy was the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme launched on October 21, 2016?
UDAN was launched on October 21, 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy to make flying affordable for the common citizen. UDAN 5.5 was recently launched as a special bidding round for seaplanes and helicopters, with Letters of Intent issued for 150 routes. The ministry has committed to extend the scheme beyond April 2027.
Source: PIB / ANI
Frequently asked questions
What does the acronym UDAN stand for and when was the scheme launched?
UDAN stands for 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' (Let the Common Citizen of the Country Fly). The scheme was launched on October 21, 2016, under the National Civil Aviation Policy by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
What are the key achievements of the UDAN scheme as of its 9th anniversary?
As of October 21, 2025, UDAN has operationalised 649 routes connecting 93 airports (including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes), served over 1.56 crore passengers through 3.23 lakh flights, and disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding.
What is the Viability Gap Fund (VGF) under UDAN and why is it needed?
The Viability Gap Fund is a government subsidy provided to airlines to make flying economically viable on regional routes that are otherwise commercially unviable due to low passenger demand. It helps airlines offer affordable fares on these routes.
What is UDAN 5.5 and what new categories does it target?
UDAN 5.5 is a special bidding round focused on seaplanes and helicopters, under which 150 route Letters of Intent (LOIs) have been issued, expanding regional connectivity to water-based and rotary-wing aviation beyond fixed-wing aircraft.
What is the Expanded UDAN Framework and what is its target?
The Expanded UDAN Framework is the next phase of the scheme extending beyond April 2027, targeting 120 new destinations to further deepen regional air connectivity across underserved parts of India.
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