**Executive Summary**
This document provides the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the expansion of the UDAN scheme, specifically concerning coverage of desert regions and backward/remote districts. The response, dated February 5, 2026, outlines the progress made in operationalizing routes and airports under the scheme, as well as ongoing development efforts in various states. The document also mentions the launch of the modified UDAN scheme with the objective of increasing regional connectivity and catering to passengers in the next 10 years.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UDAN Scheme Overview:**
* RCS-UDAN is a market-driven scheme focused on connecting unserved and underserved airports/airstrips.
* Airlines bid for routes, and airport development is undertaken if required.
* **UDAN Scheme Progress (as of January 20, 2026):**
* 657 routes have been operationalized, connecting 93 unserved/underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
* Over 160 lakh domestic passengers have traveled on more than 3.36 lakh RCS flights under UDAN.
* **Specific Regions and Airports:**
* **Rajasthan:** Uterlai airstrip (Barmer district) identified for development, contingent on land provision by the State Government. Jaisalmer Airport developed under UDAN.
* **Odisha:** Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Utkela, and Jeypore airports operationalized. Rangeilunda, Amarda and Rairangpur airstrips identified for development.
* **Jharkhand:** Bokaro, Dumka, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Deoghar and Daltonganj airports identified for RCS flights. Jamshedpur and Deoghar operationalized. Development work at Bokaro and Dumka is completed and licensing is in progress. Land for Hazaribagh airstrip is yet to be provided by the State Government. Consent for development of Daltonganj Airstrip is awaited.
* **Chhattisgarh:** Jagdalpur, Ambikapur and Bilaspur airports developed and operationalized under the UDAN scheme.
* **North-Eastern Region (NER):** 90 routes connecting 10 airports operationalized. Jiribam and Tamenglong heliports also operationalized.
* **Modified UDAN Scheme:**
* Launched to increase regional connectivity to 120 new destinations.
* Aims to cater to 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years.
* Will support helipads and smaller airports in hilly, aspirational and North East region districts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders: Airlines**
* **Impact:** Airlines have the opportunity to bid for routes and expand their operations.
* **Action Required:** Airlines should assess demand on particular routes and submit proposals during bidding rounds.
**Stakeholders: State Governments**
* **Impact:** State governments play a role in providing land and consent for airport/airstrip development.
* **Action Required:** State governments (Rajasthan and Jharkhand in particular) need to provide suitable land for Uterlai airstrip and land for Hazaribagh airstrip, and consent for the development of Daltonganj Airstrip, respectively.
**Stakeholders: Passengers**
* **Impact:** Increased regional connectivity through UDAN will benefit passengers in underserved areas.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of the expanding UDAN routes and opportunities for air travel.
**Stakeholders: Airport Authority of India (AAI)**
* **Impact:** AAI is responsible for operating some airports and participating in their development under UDAN.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and operationalise airports as per the UDAN scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN Scheme: A regional connectivity scheme to make air travel affordable and accessible in India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government body responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation in India.
Rajasthan: State in India, specifically the Barmer district, mentioned in the context of expanding the UDAN scheme to desert regions.
Odisha: State in India mentioned in the context of extending UDAN scheme coverage to backward and remote districts.
Jharkhand: State in India mentioned in the context of extending UDAN scheme coverage to backward and remote districts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. : 89
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5th February 2026 )
EXPANSION OF UDAN SCHEME
89. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government proposes to expand the UDAN scheme to cover desert
regions such as Barmer-Balotra and Jaisalmer which have immense tourism and trade
potential and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether similar coverage is being considered for backward and remote districts in
States such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and North-Eastern States and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.;
******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) & (B) IN RESPECT OF
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 89 FOR REPLY ON 05.02.2026
REGARDING 'EXPANSION OF UDAN SCHEME' ASKED BY SHRI UMMEDA
RAM BENIWAL.
(a) to (b): RCS-UDAN is a market driven scheme in which the unserved and underserved
airstrips/airports are listed for bidding by airlines to provide connectivity. Bidding rounds
are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations and routes under the
scheme. Based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, interested airlines
submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. An airport which is included
in the awarded routes of UDAN and requires upgradation/development for
commencement of UDAN flights is taken up for development under the 'Revival of
unserved/underserved airstrips' scheme.
As on 20.01.2026, a total of 657 routes have been operationalised, connecting 93 unserved
and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes carrying over
160 lakhs domestic passengers on more than 3.36 lakh RCS flights under the scheme.
Uterlai airstrip in Barmer district of Rajasthan, owned by the Indian Air Force was
identified under UDAN for development and operationalisation. Development of the civil
enclave at Uterlai is contingent upon provision of suitable land by the State Government.
Jaisalmer Airport is owned by the IAF and operated by AAI. It was identified as an
underserved airport in the 1st round of bidding under UDAN and developed at a cost of
Rs. 10.34 crore.
In the state of Odisha, 04 (four) airports namely Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Utkela, and
Jeypore have already been developed and operationalised under the UDAN scheme.
Additionally, the Rangeilunda, Amarda and Rairangpur (Dandabose) airstrips in Odisha
have been identified for development to operationalise RCS flights.
In the state of Jharkhand, 6 (six) airports namely Bokaro, Dumka, Jamshedpur,
Hazaribagh, Deoghar and Daltonganj have been identified for development and operation
of RCS flights. Jamshedpur and Deoghar airports have already been operationalised.
The development works at Bokaro and Dumka airports in Jharkhand have been completed
and licensing is in progress. The land for Hazaribagh airstrip is yet to be provided by the
State Government. The State Government has been requested to provide consent for the
development of Daltonganj Airstrip.
In the State of Chhattisgarh three airports namely Jagdalpur, Ambikapur and Bilaspur
were identified and the airports have been developed and operationalised under the
UDAN scheme.A total of 90 routes connecting 10 airports namely Pasighat, Tezu, Hollongi, Jorhat,
Lilabari, Rupsi, Tezpur, Dimapur, Shillong and Pakyong have been operationalised in
NER under the RCS UDAN scheme. In addition, two heliports, namely Jiribam and
Tamenglong, have also been operationalised under the scheme.
The Government has recently announced the launch of the modified UDAN Scheme to
increase regional connectivity to 120 new destinations across the country, and to cater to
4 crore passengers in the next 10 years. The scheme will also support helipads and smaller
airports in hilly, aspirational and North East region districts.
******