Lok Sabha Question No. 2994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Expansion of Regional Connectivity Scheme
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Anil Yeshwant Desai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2994

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  18th December 2025 )

## EXPANSION OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SCHEME

## 2994.    SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  initiatives  to  expand  regional  air  connectivity  in Odisha beyond Bhubaneshwar under the UDAN scheme or any other scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  current  status  of  aviation  infrastructure  development  in  Odisha's  tribal  and  coastal regions;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any feasibility studies to boost drone and small aircraft logistics in cyclone and flood-prone areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to encourage development and manufacture of Drones in civil and defence sectors in view of the smooth operational capability of Drones in almost all spheres of life like defence, commerce, agriculture etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  the  details  of  defence  units  and  civilian  manufacturers  who  are  contributing  to  the development of defence and civil use of Drones in the country; and
- (f) whether there is any Government watch over the use of this new tool/technology to ensure national security and if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER

## Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

(a)  &  (b):  Under the UDAN scheme, seven airports/airstrips in the state Odisha have been identified for the development and operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) flights. Out of these, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Utkela, and Jeypore have already been developed and operationalized.

Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN is an ongoing scheme wherein bidding rounds are conducted from time to time for covering more destinations and routes under the scheme.

Revival  / up-gradation  of  unserved  and  underserved  airports is undertaken  upon  its identification through valid bid and award to the Selected Airline Operator (SAO).

(c)  to  (f):  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  has  issued  the  liberalised  &  simplified  Drone  Rules, 2021 for various Drone activities in India.

Further,  to  promote  indigenous  drone  manufacturing  in  India,  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation notified the certification scheme for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) on 26th January, 2022 and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme on 30th September 2021.

As on 15 December 2025, 142 type certificates  have  been  granted  to  a  total  of  95  Indian manufacturers by DGCA for various applications such as Agricultural, mapping, Inspection, surveillance and logistic purposes. The Government has put in place a comprehensive regulatory framework for conduct of safe and efficient use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones). The measures taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation include: -  Notification  of  the  Drone  Rules,  2021  (25  August  2021),  mandating  type  certification  of drones  under  the  UAS  certification  scheme  (26  January  2022),  except  for  Nano  and  R&D drones. - Subsequent Drone (Amendment) Rules notified in 2022, 2023 and 2024 for further ease of doing  business  by  removing  the  remote  pilot  license  clause  and  facilitated  remote  pilot training organization itself to impart and issue Remote Pilot Certificate. - Provision of an interactive airspace map on the Digital Sky platform, classifying low-level airspace into red, yellow and green zones.

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