Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu Announces 10-Year Extension for UDAN Scheme and Plans for Aircraft Manufacturing in India
Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has announced the extension of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN for another 10 years. The scheme, launched on October 21, 2016, aims to make air travel affordable for the people of India.
Naidu highlighted the success of the UDAN scheme and revealed plans to increase the number of airports from 157 to 400 by 2047. This expansion will include waterdrome airports and heliports.
Additionally, Naidu announced that India will soon enter the aircraft manufacturing sector, with the goal of making India a global hub for aircraft production. The government aims to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for aircraft manufacturing, initially sourcing some components from other players but eventually producing every part within the country.
Naidu assured that the government is forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to address critical concerns in regional transport aircraft over the next five years. He also mentioned that international giants like Airbus and Boeing are inclined to partner with India in this initiative.
Doubts Revealed
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu -: Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu is a Union Minister in India, which means he is a high-ranking government official responsible for a specific department, in this case, Civil Aviation.
UDAN Scheme -: UDAN stands for ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik,’ which means ‘Let the common citizen of the country fly.’ It is a government scheme to make flying affordable and increase connectivity to smaller towns and cities in India.
Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) -: The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) is part of the UDAN initiative. It aims to improve air travel between smaller cities and towns, making it easier and cheaper for people to fly.
Airbus and Boeing -: Airbus and Boeing are two of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. They build airplanes that people use to travel long distances.
Aircraft Manufacturing -: Aircraft manufacturing is the process of building airplanes. The government wants India to start making its own airplanes to become a major player in the global aviation industry.
Self-sustaining ecosystem -: A self-sustaining ecosystem in this context means creating a system where all parts needed for aircraft manufacturing, like parts, labor, and technology, are available within the country, reducing the need to rely on other countries.