RAS question
UDAN scheme is related to:
Correct answer: (C) Regional air connectivity to underserved airports.
UDAN, or the Regional Connectivity Scheme, is related to affordable regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports, especially for tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Explanation
UDAN stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik and is the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The PIB release says it was launched on 21 October 2016 to improve regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports and to make air travel affordable for the masses. That directly matches option C: the scheme is about aviation connectivity, not general transport infrastructure. Its focus is to bring air links to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, using existing airstrips identified through UDAN bidding rounds for development and upgradation under the revival of unserved and underserved airports.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Highway construction is road infrastructure, while UDAN is specifically an air-connectivity scheme for unserved and underserved airports.
- (B) Railway expansion concerns rail networks, but the cited scheme is RCS-UDAN, designed to expand regional air routes and airport connectivity.
- (D) Port development belongs to maritime infrastructure, whereas UDAN targets airports, airstrips and affordable regional flights.
Concept
This tests government schemes within Indian transport geography, especially how infrastructure programmes link smaller cities with wider regional networks. It recurs in RAS because scheme names are often used to test whether candidates can map a policy to the correct transport sector.