Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) on 21.10.2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses. 

UDAN is a market driven scheme. Interested airlines based on their assessment of demand on particular routes, submit their proposals at the time of bidding under UDAN.

As on 31.01.2023, a total number of 73 unserved /underserved airports including 9 Heliports & 2 water aerodromes have been operationalised, since 2017, under the UDAN scheme. 

UDAN is an ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme.

UDAN is a self-financing scheme. VGF amount of around Rs. 2355 crore has been released to Selected Airline Operators as on 31.01.2023 for the operation of UDAN flights.

About UDAN Scheme 

• UDAN is an initiative by the government to connect the country’s under-served and unserved airports. 
• UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the Government of India (GoI). 
• UDAN acronym for ‘UdeDeshkaAamNagarik’ 
• It aims to develop smaller regional airports to allow common citizens easier access to aviation services.
• It is one of the new policies implemented since June 2016. 
• It is a part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of upgrading under-serviced air routes. 
• The UDAN scheme will run for 10 years