Topic à Government Policies and Interventions for the vulnerable sections:
About the UDAN scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme:
The program aims to improve air connectivity in remote and regional parts of the country and to make air travel cheaper.
It is an integral part of the National Aviation Policy led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and launched in June 2016.
Under the scheme, around 50 % of the seats are reserved at subsidized rates, and the air carrier companies are provided the requisite viability gap funding.
The cost is borne by the central government and the concerned states.
The plan will be valid for ten years and may be extended thereafter.
UDAN 4.0:
The fourth version of the UDAN Scheme was launched in December 2019 with a strong focus on the North-Eastern regions, the Hilly States and the Islands.
Airports already built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are prioritized for the provision of VGF (Viability Gap Funding) under the Scheme.
Under UDAN 4.0, the operationalization of helicopters and marine aircrafts are also included.