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GS3 · Aviation

UDAN at 9: 649 routes, 93 airports

1 min readTransport & Logistics
Battle IAS current affairs title card: UDAN at 9: 649 routes, 93 airports (GS3 · Aviation, 21 October 2025)
Asked by UPSCMains 2024 (GS3)1 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

What happened

  • UDAN, launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, has 649 routes connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes [PIB].
  • The first UDAN flight was Shimla-Delhi on 27 April 2017 [PIB].

Background

  • UDAN stands for “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik” [PIB].

Why it matters

  • Many routes shut once subsidy ends; route viability is the weak spot.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports, railways; investment models

  1. As per PIB (2025-10-21): UDAN, launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy, has 649 routes connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes.
  2. Many routes shut once subsidy ends; route viability is the weak spot.
Quotable data point

The first UDAN flight was Shimla-Delhi on 27 April 2017.

PIB: MoCA: 9th UDAN anniversary, 21 Oct 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: UDAN.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

UDAN launched on

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

First UDAN flight

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Routes operationalised

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerInfrastructure in India: Importance, Financing, PPP Models, National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM Gati Shakti (UPSC Notes + PYQs)

Official source: PIB: MoCA: 9th UDAN anniversary, 21 Oct 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending