Government Initiatives

Some major initiatives undertaken by the Government are:

• In the Union Budget 2023-24:
  • Rs. 3,224.67 crore (US$ 440.36 million) was allocated to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • Government to revive 50 aircraft landing sites comprising airports, heliports, water aerodromes, and advanced landing grounds to improve regional air connectivity.
  • In the budget 2022-23, the RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) UDAN scheme which aims to stimulate regional air connectivity was allocated Rs. 601 crore (US$ 77.52 million).
  • For better execution of the PM-Gati Shakti vision, Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation asks for synergy between the Central and State Governments to build 16 new airports in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation disbursed an amount of approximately US$ 3.7 million (Rs. 30 crore) (approximately) to the beneficiaries during FY23 under the PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted in-principle approval to Air India Ltd. and Interglobe Aviation Ltd (Indigo) for the import of 470 and 500 aircraft respectively. As per the induction plan of the airlines, the aircraft is proposed to be imported during the period 2023-2035.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates Dehradun Airport's new terminal, expanding capacity to serve 3240 passengers during peak hours and 47 Lakh annually. The terminal embodies local heritage, with columns inspired by state flower "Brahmakamal", promoting sustainability and accessibility.
• UDAN scheme fosters regional connectivity with 519 operational routes, encompassing 53 tourism and 48 helicopter routes, benefiting 133.86 lakh passengers. Over 2.56 lakh flights have operated, involving 13 airlines, including startups, shaping a transformative impact on regional growth and air connectivity.
• NABH (NextGen Airports for Bharat) - Nirman is a government initiative to expand airport capacity more than five times to handle billions of trips a year, in the next 10-15 years.
• The Government has informed that India will spend US$ 11.88 billion by 2025 to boost regional connectivity by constructing airports and modernising existing ones.
• In 2023, the government has accorded 'In-Principle' approval for setting up 21 Greenfield Airports across the country. Out of these, 11 Greenfield airports have been operationalised.
• AAI Startup Policy: Delivering a framework & mechanism for the interaction of AAI with internal and external stakeholders that catalyze innovation at airports and leveraging technology for addressing challenges and enhancing the delivery of services to passengers.
• Under four rounds of bidding of RCS-UDAN, as of November 2022, 459 routes have commenced, operationalizing 70 airports including 2 water aerodromes & 9 heliports.
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia launches Digi Yatra for three airports in the country. Digi Yatra is being implemented across airports in a phased manner. In the first phase, it was launched by Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel on December 1, 2022, at Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi Airports. The implementation of Digi Yatra under phase I is also planned at Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad Airports by March 2023.
• Civil enclave to be built in Jammu at a cost of Rs. 861 crore (US$ 107.9 million).
• In October 2022, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the C-295 Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced that airlines can operate domestic flights without any capacity restriction, effective from October 18, 2021.
• In October 2021, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, virtually flagged off the first direct flight along the Shillong–Dibrugarh route, under the RCS-UDAN (Regional Connectivity Scheme - Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Krishi UDAN 2.0 scheme in October 2021. The scheme proposes assistance and incentives for the movement of agri-produce by air transportation. The Krishi UDAN 2.0 will be implemented at 53 airports across the country, largely focusing on Northeast and tribal regions, and is expected to benefit farmers, freight forwarders, and airlines.
• On October 20, 2021, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh. The international airport is likely to facilitate the air travel requirements of international Buddhist pilgrims in India.
• In August 2021, the government plans to implement a biometric boarding system using facial technology in six airports, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. The project is currently in the testing phase.
• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is hopeful that aspiring commercial pilots will soon be able to get trained in India without having to leave the country. In this regard, the government in July 2021 announced setting up eight new flying academies across the following five airports: Belagavi and Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, and Lilabari in Assam.
• The government is planning to start 14 more water aerodromes across the country, after the successful launch of seaplane service by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, between the Statue of Unity near Kevadiya in Gujarat's Narmada district and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad in October 2020.