- Why in news
- On 25 March 2026 the Union Cabinet approved the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN, with an outlay of ₹28,840 crore over FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36.
- What it is
- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) is the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, launched in 2016 to make flying affordable and link unserved and underserved airports. It supports airlines with Viability Gap Funding on selected routes. Modified UDAN extends this with airport building, operation support and helipads.
- Scheme period and outlay
- Ten years, FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36, funded fully by budgetary support of the Government of India, ₹28,840 crore.
- Indigenous procurement
- Two HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air.
Don’t confuse with UDAN vs Modified UDAN: UDAN (2016) is the original scheme linking routes; Modified UDAN adds airport building in Challenge Mode, helipads and O&M support.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Extends air access to Tier 2 and 3 cities, remote, hilly and island areas, aiding trade, tourism and emergency services.
- Helipads and O&M support improve viability of small aerodromes and healthcare access.
- Buying HAL aircraft supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in aerospace.
Problems
- Many RCS-only aerodromes have high recurring costs and thin revenue early on.
- Airline viability on thin routes can depend on subsidy, risking route closures once VGF ends.
Way forward
- Taper VGF as planned and link support to route performance.
- Use Challenge Mode for timely, quality airport building, and add last-mile road and rail links.
Put in your answer
VGF outlay: ₹10,043 crore VGF over 10 years supports airlines on regional routes.
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q12Need for regional air connectivity; evaluate UDAN scheme achievements.
- 2017Mains GS3 · Q3Examine airport development in India via PPP joint ventures; challenges.
- 2022Mains GS2 · Q6Gati-Shakti needs government-private coordination to achieve connectivity; discuss.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Under Modified UDAN, Operation and Maintenance support for aerodromes is provided for five years.
- 2.Under Modified UDAN, airlines receive Viability Gap Funding for five years, with tapering from the third year, while exclusivity of operations stays limited to three years.
- 3.Modified UDAN is to be funded wholly through budgetary support of the Government of India over ten years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 8
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Modified UDAN will run for ten years from FY 2026–27.
True. Scheme period is FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36.
2.Under Modified UDAN, 100 airports are to be developed from existing unserved airstrips.
True. 100 airports from unserved airstrips.
3.Modified UDAN provides Operation and Maintenance support to aerodromes for five years.
False. O&M support is for three years.
4.The scheme proposes 200 modern helipads for hilly, remote, island and aspirational regions.
True. 200 helipads are proposed.
5.Under Modified UDAN, airlines get Viability Gap Funding for three years, matching the period of route exclusivity.
False. VGF is for five years, tapering from year three; exclusivity is three years.
6.The scheme proposes buying HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and HAL Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air.
True. Two Dhruv for Pawan Hans, two Dornier for Alliance Air.
7.The original UDAN scheme was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
True. UDAN was launched in 2016.
8.Modified UDAN will be funded partly by a levy on airline tickets on major routes.
False. It is funded wholly through budgetary support of the Government of India.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The Union Cabinet has approved Modified UDAN, with an outlay of ₹28,840 crore over FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, to extend the Regional Connectivity Scheme through new airports, operation support, helipads and viability gap funding. Examine the main provisions of the scheme and discuss the challenges in making regional air connectivity financially sustainable.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.