India’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme is in the headlines as it has been chosen for the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 in the category “Innovation (General) – Central”. This recognition, handed out by the Indian government since 2006, celebrates extraordinary and innovative work by districts and organisations of the Central and State Governments. The award comes with a trophy, scroll, and Rs. 10 lakh to be used for implementing a project or programme in any area related to public welfare.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is set to receive this prestigious award on 21st April, which incidentally is also the Civil Service Day – a day when civil servants recommit to serving the citizens and excellence in work.
With the UDAN Scheme, the Ministry of Civil Aviation aims to construct 100 new airports by 2024 and initiate 1,000 new routes under the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) by the year 2026.
Understanding the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
Established in 2006, this award has undergone several changes since its inception to accommodate the evolving needs of public service. In 2014, the focus was on recognizing the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programs, Innovations and Aspirational Districts. By 2020, the emphasis shifted to an economic development perspective, honoring notable contributions in this area by District Collectors.
The most recent revamp occurred in 2021, where the award now encourages Constructive Competition, Innovation, Replication and Institutionalisation of Best Practices. The updated approach focuses on good governance, qualitative achievement, and last mile connectivity, marking a shift from purely quantitative targets.
The UDAN Scheme: An Overview
Launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the UDAN Scheme aims to develop the regional aviation market and make air travel on regional routes affordable and economically viable. The scheme envisions connecting un-served and underserved airports in India through the revival of existing airstrips and airports and is operational for a period of 10 years.
The UDAN Scheme has made significant strides since its inception. It has seen the operationalization of 387 routes and 60 airports, with 100 routes awarded in the North East region alone. The KRISHI UDAN Scheme has identified 16 airports to enhance the export opportunities of the North East Region.
Highlighting the Achievements of the UDAN Scheme
Among the key achievements of the UDAN Scheme is the positive impact it has had on the Indian economy. The scheme has led to balanced regional growth by providing connectivity across the length and breadth of the country. This growth has resulted in economic upliftment and job opportunities for local populations.
The scheme also led to the development of new GreenField Airports such as Pakyong near Gangtok in Sikkim, Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. In terms of passenger share, the scheme contributed to a 5% incremental growth in the domestic passenger share of non-metro airports.
Phases of the UDAN Scheme
There have been multiple phases of the UDAN Scheme. These include:
UDAN 1.0: Five airlines companies got 128 flight routes to 70 airports.
UDAN 2.0: 73 underserved and unserved airports were announced in 2018, with helipads also connected under this phase.
UDAN 3.0: Tourism Routes were included under UDAN 3, as were Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes.
UDAN 4.0: In 2020, 78 new routes were approved under to enhance the connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country.
UDAN 4.1: This phase focuses on connecting smaller airports, along with special helicopter and seaplane routes.
Way Forward
While the UDAN Scheme has made significant progress, there is recognition that additional efforts are required for it to become sustainable on its own. Airlines must undertake marketing initiatives to increase awareness of the scheme and benefit from it. More infrastructure developments are also needed for successful implementation of the scheme across the country.