UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN with a total outlay of Rs.28,840 crore

Q1. Over how many financial years is the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN, approved by the Union Cabinet, to be implemented?

  • A. 8 financial years
  • B. 9 financial years
  • C. 10 financial years
  • D. 12 financial years

Q2. With reference to how the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN differs from the original RCS-UDAN, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the original scheme, whose Viability Gap Funding was financed through a Regional Connectivity Fund levy, Modified UDAN is funded entirely through the budgetary support of the Government of India. 2. Modified UDAN is implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, whereas the original UDAN was implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. 3. Modified UDAN has a ten-year horizon extending up to FY 2035-36. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the original scheme, whose Viability Gap Funding was financed through a Regional Connectivity Fund levy, Modified UDAN is funded entirely through the budgetary support of the Government of India.
  2. Modified UDAN is implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, whereas the original UDAN was implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  3. Modified UDAN has a ten-year horizon extending up to FY 2035-36.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following components has been allocated the LARGEST share of the Rs.28,840 crore outlay under the Modified UDAN scheme?

  • A. Development of 100 airports from unserved airstrips
  • B. Viability Gap Funding for airlines
  • C. Development of 200 modern helipads
  • D. Operation and Maintenance support for aerodromes

Q4. With reference to the component-wise allocation under Modified UDAN, consider the following statements: 1. The Viability Gap Funding component of Rs.10,043 crore is spread over the full ten-year period of the scheme. 2. The development of 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips is allocated Rs.12,159 crore over eight years. 3. The development of 200 modern helipads, allocated Rs.3,661 crore, is to be carried out over the full ten-year period of the scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Viability Gap Funding component of Rs.10,043 crore is spread over the full ten-year period of the scheme.
  2. The development of 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips is allocated Rs.12,159 crore over eight years.
  3. The development of 200 modern helipads, allocated Rs.3,661 crore, is to be carried out over the full ten-year period of the scheme.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Under UDAN 5.0, the earlier cap on the distance between the origin and destination of a flight — fixed at how many kilometres — was removed?

  • A. 400 km
  • B. 500 km
  • C. 600 km
  • D. 800 km

Q6. With reference to the successive rounds of the original RCS-UDAN, consider the following statements: 1. UDAN 2.0 connected helipads under the scheme for the first time. 2. UDAN 3.0 introduced tourism routes and seaplane connectivity to water aerodromes. 3. UDAN 5.1 was a dedicated bidding round designed specifically for fixed-wing Category-3 (above 80 seats) aircraft. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. UDAN 2.0 connected helipads under the scheme for the first time.
  2. UDAN 3.0 introduced tourism routes and seaplane connectivity to water aerodromes.
  3. UDAN 5.1 was a dedicated bidding round designed specifically for fixed-wing Category-3 (above 80 seats) aircraft.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the cumulative achievements of the original RCS-UDAN scheme as on 28 February 2026, consider the following statements: 1. More than 700 routes had been operationalised under the scheme. 2. The scheme had operationalised 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes taken together. 3. The scheme had carried 162.47 lakh passengers across more than 3.41 lakh flights. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. More than 700 routes had been operationalised under the scheme.
  2. The scheme had operationalised 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes taken together.
  3. The scheme had carried 162.47 lakh passengers across more than 3.41 lakh flights.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Which one of the following was the first flight to be inaugurated under the original RCS-UDAN scheme in April 2017?

  • A. Shimla–Delhi
  • B. Kadapa–Hyderabad
  • C. Nanded–Hyderabad
  • D. Bareilly–Delhi

Q9. With reference to the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanism under the UDAN scheme, consider the following statements: 1. VGF compensates airlines for the gap between operating cost and expected revenue on otherwise unviable regional routes. 2. Under the original scheme, the VGF requirement was met through a Regional Connectivity Fund financed by a levy on certain domestic flights. 3. Under Modified UDAN, VGF support to an airline on a route is provided for five years, tapering from the third year. 4. Under Modified UDAN, route exclusivity for the operator extends for the entire ten-year duration of the scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. VGF compensates airlines for the gap between operating cost and expected revenue on otherwise unviable regional routes.
  2. Under the original scheme, the VGF requirement was met through a Regional Connectivity Fund financed by a levy on certain domestic flights.
  3. Under Modified UDAN, VGF support to an airline on a route is provided for five years, tapering from the third year.
  4. Under Modified UDAN, route exclusivity for the operator extends for the entire ten-year duration of the scheme.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. Under the Modified UDAN scheme, for how many years is an airline provided Viability Gap Funding support on an awarded route?

  • A. 3 years
  • B. 5 years
  • C. 8 years
  • D. 10 years

Q11. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and institutional architecture of the Modified UDAN scheme, consider the following pairings/elements: 1. HAL Dhruv helicopters — for Pawan Hans. 2. HAL Dornier (Do-228) aircraft — for Alliance Air. 3. Airports Authority of India — implementing agency of the scheme. 4. HAL Tejas aircraft — for IndiGo. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified under the scheme?

  1. HAL Dhruv helicopters — for Pawan Hans.
  2. HAL Dornier (Do-228) aircraft — for Alliance Air.
  3. Airports Authority of India — implementing agency of the scheme.
  4. HAL Tejas aircraft — for IndiGo.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q12. The development of 100 airports from unserved airstrips and the connecting of Tier-2/Tier-3 cities under the Modified UDAN scheme is operationalised by which one of the following as the implementing agency?

  • A. Airports Authority of India
  • B. Directorate General of Civil Aviation
  • C. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security
  • D. Pawan Hans Limited
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

    • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore