What is the need for expanding the regional air connectivity in India? In this context, discuss the government’s UDAN Scheme and its achievements.
Approach · directive: “what / discuss”
What it asks · Justify regional air connectivity, then describe UDAN's design, results and shortcomings.
The question has 3 parts — answer each
- What: the need for expanding regional air connectivity in India
- Discuss the UDAN Scheme: its design
- Discuss its achievements — with shortcomings for balance
Open with · UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), launched in 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, aims to make flying affordable from unserved and under-served airports.
Cover
- Need: India's size and terrain (hills, North-East, islands) make surface travel slow; air links integrate remote regions.
- Economic: tourism, trade, investment and jobs in tier-2/3 towns; relieves congestion at metro airports.
- Social and strategic: faster access to health care, disaster response and border areas.
- Design: viability gap funding, capped fares on a share of seats, and concessions from Centre, States and airport operators.
- Achievements: revived dormant airstrips, added heliports and water aerodromes, and extended to Krishi UDAN and tourism routes.
- Shortcomings: many routes shut after VGF ends; small airlines' viability, aircraft shortages and incomplete airport readiness.
- Next step: the Modified UDAN (2026) focuses on aerodrome development and sustaining operations on remote routes.
Close with · UDAN has proved demand exists beyond metros; sustaining routes needs better infrastructure, fleet support and demand aggregation.
Add value (verified)
- By 25 March 2026, 663 UDAN routes were operating across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes. PIB — Cabinet approves Modified UDAN (2026) ↗“As on 25 March 2026, a total of 663 routes have been operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes under UDAN.”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2024, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 283 words (UPSC limit 250) · Minimalist IAS
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), launched in 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, aims to make flying affordable from unserved and under-served airports — the operational core of regional connectivity.
Why regional connectivity matters
- Geography: hills, the North-East, islands and deserts make surface travel slow; air links tie remote regions to the national economy.
- Economy: tourism, trade, investment and jobs spread to tier-2 and tier-3 towns, and metro airports decongest as traffic disperses.
- Social and strategic: faster access to specialised healthcare, disaster response and border areas; aviation demand beyond the metros is rising with incomes.
UDAN's design
- Viability gap funding shared by the Centre and States and financed by a levy on major routes, with fares capped on a share of seats (about ₹2,500 for an hour's flight).
- Concessions: low or nil airport charges, reduced excise on fuel and three-year route exclusivity to attract small operators.
- Variants: helicopter and seaplane routes, Krishi UDAN for farm produce, tourism routes, and Lifeline UDAN for medical cargo during COVID-19.
Achievements
- Revived dormant airstrips and connected heliports and water aerodromes: by 25 March 2026, 663 routes were operating across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
- Brought first-time flyers into aviation, spurred airport upgrades and opened a pipeline for new regional airlines.
Shortcomings
- Many routes stopped once VGF ended; small operators struggle with viability, aircraft shortages and thin demand.
- Airport readiness lagged route awards, and some States delayed their concessions.
- Response: the Modified UDAN (2026) focuses on aerodrome development and sustaining operations on remote routes.
UDAN has proved that demand exists beyond the metros; sustaining it needs ready airports, fleet support, demand aggregation and an honest review of routes the market can carry on its own.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.