**Policy Summary: Enhancing Flight Safety and Regional Air Connectivity in India**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to questions regarding national and international flight safety standards, regional connectivity enhancement through the UDAN scheme, and government assistance to domestic airlines.
**Flight Safety Measures:** The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) employs a comprehensive safety oversight mechanism that includes regular surveillances, spot checks, audits, and risk-based inspections to ensure compliance with aviation rules and regulations. The DGCA publishes an Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) to guide these safety checks. Findings from these checks are followed up with operators for corrective action, and violations may result in enforcement actions, including penalties. A National Aviation Safety Plan with measurable Safety Performance Indicators and Targets is also in place, developed in coordination with service providers to address operational safety risks.
**Regional Connectivity (UDAN Scheme):** The Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme is an ongoing, demand-driven initiative aimed at enhancing affordable air connectivity in remote areas. Bidding rounds are conducted periodically to cover more destinations and routes, with interested airlines submitting proposals based on their assessment of demand. The government has recently announced a 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.
**Assistance to Domestic Airlines:** The UDAN scheme provides financial incentives to airline operators on regional routes. These incentives include concessions from the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, and airport operators designed to reduce airline operational costs. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is also provided to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues on UDAN routes, making air travel more affordable.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The national regulatory authority for civil aviation in India, responsible for ensuring flight safety standards.
UDAN Scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik): A regional connectivity scheme to enhance affordable air travel in remote areas of India.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of policies and programs relating to the civil aviation sector in India.
National Aviation Safety Plan: A safety plan implemented by the DGCA with measurable Safety Performance Indicators and Targets to address operational safety risks.
Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP): A plan published by the DGCA that guides regular safety checks by directorates.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS): Government scheme to enhance air connectivity to remote areas.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support provided under the UDAN scheme to bridge the gap between operational costs and expected revenues on regional routes.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 869
th
(To be answered on the 24 July 2025)
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SAFETY STANDARDS
869. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details of the specific measures recently implemented by the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure strict compliance
with national and international flight safety standards;
(b) whether any new regional routes are being planned under the latest phase
of the UDAN scheme to enhance affordable air connectivity in remote areas
and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the manner in which the Government is assisting domestic airlines in
managing high operational costs to ensure uninterrupted air services for
passengers?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a robust system in
place to ensure safe aviation operations in India. Key steps include:
1.Safety Oversight Mechanism: DGCA regularly monitors compliance with
aviation rules and regulations through surveillances, spot checks, audits, and
special risk-based inspections.
2.Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP): Published on the DGCA website, the ASP
guides regular safety checks by directorates. Findings are followed up with
operators for corrective action, and violations may attract enforcement
actions, including penalties.
3.National Aviation Safety Plan: DGCA has implemented a safety plan with
measurable Safety Performance Indicators and Targets. The action plan is
developed in coordination with service providers to address operational safety
risks.
(b) : Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN)
is a demand-driven ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conductedfrom time to time to cover more destinations/stations and routes. Based on
their assessment of demand on particular routes, interested airlines submit
their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN. Valid bids are awarded
for the operationalisation of routes.
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.
(c) The UDAN Scheme provides financial incentives to airline operators on
regional routes that include:Concessions by the Central Government, State
Governments/ Union Territories and airport operators to reduce airline
operation costs and also the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to bridge the gap
between operational costs and expected revenues on such routes to make air
travel affordable under the scheme.
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