Civil Aviation Minister Launches 'Challenge Mode' Portal for Aerodrome Development and Next Phase of UDAN Scheme

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 21 states and union territories to expand regional air connectivity across the country, marking the commencement of the next phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. The ceremony, held at The Ashok in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, was inaugurated by Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Also present on the occasion were Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol, Ministry Secretary Shri Sameer Kumar Sinha, and Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Shri Vipin Kumar.

Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu launched the 'Challenge Mode' portal for aerodrome development and released the scheme document related to the route bidding process. Through this portal, state governments and union territory administrations will be able to nominate airstrips and helipads for development. This will facilitate the construction and upgrading of aviation infrastructure based on local requirements. Additionally, aviation companies will be invited for identified routes through the route bidding process, ensuring transparency and competition.

Minister Naidu stated that the revised UDAN scheme is based on four main pillars: affordability for passengers, operational sustainability, a transparent challenge mode framework for projects, and the promotion of indigenous manufacturing. He mentioned that the goal of this scheme is to create an ecosystem for 'Made in India' civil aircraft. Highlighting the impact of UDAN, he noted that 687 routes and 95 aerodromes have been made operational so far, serving approximately 1.71 crore passengers. He also shared that employment in the aviation sector has grown from 30 lakh in 2014 to nearly 77 lakh currently, with expectations to reach 2.5 crore by 2040.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol stated that under the revised UDAN scheme, the target is to add 120 new destinations and 4 crore additional passengers over the next ten years.

This new phase is based on the inauguration performed by the Prime Minister in Jodhpur on July 4, 2026, and the suggestions from the UDAN workshop held on July 16, 2026. Under this initiative, a structured framework has been established between the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the respective states to ensure the development and operation of aviation assets in unconnected and under-served regions.