Why in news?

• UDAN scheme completed its 9th anniversary on October 21, 2025, marking significant achievements since its launch in 2016.
• The scheme has facilitated over 1.56 crore passengers through 3.23 lakh flights, operationalizing 649 routes.
• The government has disbursed more than ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding and invested ₹4,638 crore in airport development under UDAN.

Key features of UDAN

• Development and operationalization of regional airports to increase the number of airports with scheduled civilian flights.
• Provision of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airlines to compensate for losses incurred due to low fares.
• Collaboration between the central and state governments to support airport infrastructure, security, and operational costs.
• Focus on boosting regional connectivity across India, including remote, hilly, and North-Eastern regions.
• Inclusion of helicopter and seaplane services to enhance connectivity.

The government aims to expand the scheme further to include around 120 new destinations and promote balanced regional development.

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