**Executive Summary**
This document is a response by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation to Unstarred Question No. 709 in Lok Sabha, concerning the UDAN scheme. The response, due on December 4th, 2025, details the progress, measures, and future plans related to the scheme. The report outlines the current status of RCS routes, measures to ensure uninterrupted flight operations, and plans for expansion.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UDAN Scheme Progress:**
* A total of 923 valid RCS routes have been awarded.
* 651 routes have been operationalised.
* 93 unserved and underserved airports have been connected, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
* Over 1.57 crore domestic passengers have travelled on more than 3.27 lakh RCS flights.
* **Measures for Uninterrupted Flight Operations:**
* The government provides Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines.
* Support is provided for the upgrading of regional airports.
* Operational flexibility is encouraged.
* Routes discontinued in the past are rebid, awarded, and operationalised.
* Increased adoption of technologies like Special Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) standards at feasible airports for all-weather operations.
* **Future Plans:**
* The government announced the modified UDAN scheme to connect 120 new destinations across the country in the next 10 years.
* Catering to 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Airlines**
* **Impact:** Benefit from Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to operate routes. Will be involved in bidding for discontinued routes and operationalising new routes.
* **Action Required:** Participate in bidding for routes. Adopt technological advancements and operational flexibility.
**Regional Airports**
* **Impact:** Benefit from government support for upgrades to improve connectivity and operational standards.
* **Action Required:** Implement and utilise the government support to upgrade facilities.
**Passengers**
* **Impact:** Increased connectivity to remote and regional areas. Access to more affordable air travel via the UDAN scheme.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required.
Key Entities Referenced
UDAN Scheme: A regional connectivity scheme aimed at improving air connectivity to remote and regional areas within the country. Also known as Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN).
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of policies and programs related to the civil aviation sector.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support provided by the government to airlines to ensure the economic viability of operating on routes under the UDAN scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 709
th
(To be answered on the 4 December 2025)
ROUTES UNDER UDAN SCHEME
709. SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE
SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) the progress made so far under the UDAN scheme in the country, particularly
with regard to connecting remote and regional areas; (b) the number of routes
allocated along with the number of routes on which operations have commenced
under the said scheme in the country, State-wise including Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh;
(c) the various special measures taken by the Government to ensure uninterrupted
flight operations on the said routes; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to introduce more routes under the said
scheme and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) & (b): Since the commencement of the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh
ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), a total of 923 valid RCS routes have been awarded,
out of which 651 routes have been operationalised, connecting 93 unserved and
underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes across the
nation. So far, over 1.57 crore domestic passengers have travelled on more than 3.27
lakh RCS flights.(c) and (d): In order to ensure uninterrupted flight operations on these routes, the
government provides viability gap funding (VGF) to airlines, supports the upgrading
of regional airports, and encourages operational flexibility. Further, routes that were
discontinued in the past rounds are also rebid, awarded and operationalised in
subsequent rounds. Further, steps such as increased adoption of technologies like
Special Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) standards at feasible
airports for all-weather operations have also been taken.
To further enhance regional connectivity, the Government has announced the
modified UDAN Scheme to connect 120 new destinations across the country,
catering to 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years.
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