PIB Summary- 27th October, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme

Context
The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), a government-backed initiative to improve infrastructure and connectivity in India, especially in remote and underserved regions, completes six years.

About Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)

• It is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme” (RCS) of the Union Government of India.
• The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.

Funding Pattern for the Scheme
Concession by Central Government, State Governments/UTs, and Airport Operators:

• The scheme aims to reduce the cost of operations on regional routes.
• The Central Government, State Governments/UTs, and airport operators will provide concessions to airlines operating on these routes.

Financial Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Support:

• VGF support will be provided to bridge the gap, if any, between the cost of airline operations and expected revenues on regional routes.
• The VGF will be a joint effort between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the respective State Government.

VGF Sharing Ratios:

• The VGF support will be shared between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the State Government in a ratio of 80:20.
• For States in the North-Eastern region and Union Territories, the VGF sharing ratio will be 90:10.

Different Phases of the Scheme

• Under this phase, 5 airlines companies were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 airports (including 36 newly made operational airports)

UDAN 2.0

• In 2018, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced 73 underserved and unserved airports.
• For the first time, helipads were also connected under phase 2 of UDAN scheme.

UDAN 3.0
Key Features of UDAN 3 included:

• Inclusion of Tourism Routes under UDAN 3 in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism.
• Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting Water Aerodromes.
• Bringing in a number of routes in the North-East Region under the ambit of UDAN.

UDAN 4.0:

• The 4th round of UDAN was launched in December 2019 with a special focus on North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands.
  • The airports that had already been developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) are given higher priority for the award of VGF (Viability Gap Funding) under the Scheme.
  • Under UDAN 4, the operation of helicopter and seaplanes is also been incorporated.

UDAN 5.0 Scheme
The 5th round of the scheme has introduced several changes, including:

• Focus on Category-2 and Category-3: The current round of the scheme is targeted towards Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft.
• No restriction on stage length: The earlier cap of 600 km on stage length has been waived off, allowing airlines to operate flights on any distance between the origin and destination.
• Increased Viability Gap Funding (VGF) cap: The VGF to be provided will be capped at 600 km stage length for both Priority and Non-Priority areas, which was earlier capped at 500 km.
• Shorter deadline for commencement of operations: Airlines would be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award of the route. Earlier this deadline was 6 months.

Objective

• To create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.
• To stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses.
• The scheme envisages providing connectivity to un-served and underserved airports of the country through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme is operational for a period of 10 years.
• UDAN is a market driven ongoing scheme where bidding rounds are conducted periodically for covering more destinations/stations and routes under the scheme.
• Interested airlines assess the demand on particular routes connecting these airports and submit their proposals at the time of bidding.

Performance of the UDAN Scheme

• Before the launch of the UDAN Scheme, India had only 76 airports connected by scheduled commercial flights since 1911.
• Since 2014, the number of operational airports has significantly increased to 141, demonstrating substantial growth in air connectivity.

Expansion of Routes:

• The UDAN Scheme has initiated 479 new routes, creating a network that reaches various regions across the country.
• As a result, air connectivity has been extended to more than 29 States and Union Territories, connecting previously underserved areas.

Passenger Outreach:

• The UDAN Scheme has had a notable impact on passenger accessibility and convenience.
• Over one crore passengers have availed the benefits of this scheme, enjoying improved air travel opportunities and enhanced connectivity.

Challenges to the RCS Scheme

• Some routes identified under UDAN are commercially unviable for airlines due to low demand, affecting profitability.
• 225 out of 479 launched routes have ceased operations.

Inadequate Airport Infrastructure:

• Remote regions lack adequate airport infrastructure, posing challenges for airlines.
• Upgradation and improvements are required to meet safety standards and handle increased air traffic.

Viability Gap Funding Issues:

• Subsidies and viability gap funding provided to airlines on selected routes faced challenges as some routes remained commercially unviable.

High Operating Costs:

• Airlines operating in remote areas face higher operating costs, including increased fuel expenses, maintenance costs, and logistical challenges.

Cap on Airfares:

• The cap on airfares for RCS flights can impact airlines’ revenue potential, discouraging them from operating on certain routes.

Lack of Awareness:

• Limited awareness among potential passengers about air travel options under UDAN can limit demand and utilization of regional air services.

Way Forward for UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme:

• Government, aviation industry stakeholders, and local authorities should work together to address the challenges and find effective solutions.
• Invest in improving airport infrastructure in remote regions to handle increased air traffic and ensure safety standards.
• Ensure timely and efficient disbursement of subsidies and viability gap funding to airlines operating on selected routes.
• Identify and address operational challenges faced by airlines, such as high operating costs and logistical issues.
• Launch awareness campaigns to inform potential passengers about the availability and benefits of regional air travel under UDAN.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of routes and airports to identify any issues and make necessary improvements.
• Encourage innovation in the aviation sector to find innovative solutions to enhance connectivity and reduce operational costs.
• Re evaluate the airfare cap for RCS flights to strike a balance between affordability and airlines’ revenue sustainability.

United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

Context
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) from 26-28 October, 2023 at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

• The UNFF is a global platform that advocates for the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.
• It was established in the year 2000 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• The Forum convenes annually at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together representatives of all UN member states and forest-related agencies. It focuses on high-level dialogues about technical matters in odd years and policy matters in even years.
• With universal membership, it comprises all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.
• India holds the distinction of being a founding member of the UNFF.

Country-Led Initiative (CLI):

• The Country-Led Initiative (CLI) primarily aims to contribute to discussions within the UNFF concerning the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF).
• It also seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices among UNFF member States for the effective implementation of SFM and UNSPF.
• In the current year, CLI will focus its discussions on thematic areas related to forest fires and forest certification.