In short: The most exam-relevant PIB news of 20 October 2026: UDAN completes 10 years with Modified UDAN at Rs 28,840 crore; India raises terrorism and sovereignty-based connectivity at the SCO heads of government meeting; and a 100 GW nuclear target for 2047.
Today’s PIB at a Glance
| # | News | Syllabus | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UDAN Completes 10 Years; Modified UDAN Gets Rs 28,840 Crore Outlay Till 2035-36 | GS Paper 3, GS Paper 2 | Core topic ★★★ |
| 2 | SCO Heads of Government Meet | GS Paper 2, SCO | Important ★★☆ |
| 3 | India Eyes 100 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2047 to Meet Clean Power and AI Data-Centre Demand | GS Paper 3, Nuclear energy | Important ★★☆ |
1. UDAN Completes 10 Years; Modified UDAN Gets Rs 28,840 Crore Outlay Till 2035-36
About UDAN
- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), also called the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), was launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 to make regional air travel affordable and viable.
- Airlines are drawn in through market-based route selection, airfare caps, concessions and Viability Gap Funding (VGF), which compensates operators for losses on thin routes; Rs 5,091.23 crore had been disbursed as VGF by 15 October 2026.
What the first decade delivered
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Regional routes operationalised | 687 |
| Aerodromes operationalised | 95, including 17 heliports and 2 water aerodromes |
| Flights operated | More than 3.68 lakh |
| Passengers carried | 1.72 crore |
What Modified UDAN changes
- The next phase was launched on 4 July 2026 and runs for ten years, with a focus on building an ecosystem for Made in India civil aircraft.
- Capital support covers 100 new airports from unserved airstrips (Rs 12,159 crore over eight years) and 200 modern helipads at about Rs 15 crore each (Rs 3,661 crore).
- Three years of operation and maintenance support is planned for about 441 aerodromes (Rs 2,577 crore), capped at Rs 3.06 crore per airport a year, so upkeep costs do not shut small airports.
- Airline VGF of Rs 10,043 crore is limited to five years per route, tapers from the third year, and route exclusivity ends after three years.
- Rs 400 crore is proposed for two HAL Dhruv helicopters (Pawan Hans) and two HAL Dornier aircraft (Alliance Air), tying connectivity to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Centre-State partnership is formalised through 21 MoUs with States, UTs and the Airports Authority of India, plus a Challenge Mode Portal where States nominate airstrips and helipads.
Concerns and way forward
- Although 90 priority RCS routes run in the North-East, only 12 of 52 identified aerodromes there are operational, so the new Challenge Mode needs time-bound State clearances and land handover to close this gap.
- VGF has been the core support for airlines, which is why the tapered five-year limit matters: routes must become commercially viable instead of depending on subsidy.
Exam Connect
Syllabus: GS Paper 3: infrastructure (airports, aviation); GS Paper 2: Centre-State partnership in development schemes.
Key facts
| Launched | 21 October 2016 (first flight: Shimla to Delhi, April 2017) |
|---|---|
| Modified UDAN outlay | Rs 28,840 crore, FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 |
| Ten-year footprint | 687 routes, 95 aerodromes, 1.72 crore passengers |
Static Connect
- Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a statutory body under the AAI Act, 1994, and manages most civil airports; it is a party to the UDAN State MoUs.
- Viability Gap Funding is a one-time or deferred grant to make economically justified but financially unviable projects bankable; here it is applied to airline operations.
- Civil aviation is a Union subject (Entry 29, Union List), so State participation in UDAN works through MoUs and land support, not legislative power.
Prelims pointers
- UDAN stands for Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik and is also called the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS).
- Modified UDAN runs FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore.
Mains takeaway: Regional air connectivity succeeds only when infrastructure, route economics and State land support improve together, so a subsidy that tapers is the test of UDAN’s next decade.
Source: PIB release 2325359
2. SCO Heads of Government Meet: India Pushes Anti-Terror Action and Sovereignty-Based Connectivity
What India said
- India asked members to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism and rejected double standards, including any place for those who finance, support or give safe haven to terrorists.
- Connectivity projects must rest on consultation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and projects that ignore this, he said, will not be sustainable.
- India pointed to the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port as links between Central Asia and wider markets.
- He also asked the SCO to avoid duplicating institutions, saying new mechanisms should serve clearly identified needs.
Outcomes
- Heads of Delegation adopted the Joint Communiqué, the SCO budget for 2027 and the PMTEC Action Plan for 2026-2030 (multilateral trade and economic cooperation).
- India welcomed the Bishkek Summit decision to make the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe permanent bodies.
- India will host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum later this year, and the first-ever SCO Asian Economic Dialogue has been held.
Exam Connect
Syllabus: GS Paper 2: bilateral, regional and global groupings; India’s neighbourhood and Central Asia policy.
Static Connect
- SCO began in 2001 (it grew out of the Shanghai Five of 1996); India became a full member in 2017, as the release notes.
- Council of Heads of Government is the SCO mechanism for economic and other practical cooperation, separate from the Heads of State Council.
- RATS is the SCO’s permanent regional anti-terrorist structure, based in Tashkent.
Prelims pointers
- The 25th SCO CHG meeting was held in Dushanbe on 20 October 2026.
- The Universal Centre is in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe.
Mains takeaway: India uses the SCO to link counter-terrorism with a sovereignty test for connectivity, making both arguments in one forum.
Read more on GSMitra: The Bishkek Declaration and India’s SCO Balancing Act
Source: PIB release 2325428
3. India Eyes 100 GW Nuclear Capacity by 2047 to Meet Clean Power and AI Data-Centre Demand
What the Minister said
- India’s nuclear programme is dedicated to peaceful purposes, in line with the vision of Dr Homi Bhabha, the architect of the programme.
- Nuclear power is expected to give continuous, reliable clean electricity alongside other sources on the path to Net Zero emissions by 2070.
- Growth of Artificial Intelligence and data centres will need dependable round-the-clock power, which the Minister linked to nuclear expansion.
- He added that critical and sensitive sectors have been opened to non-government players, widening room for private participation.
Concerns and way forward
- The release gives targets but no capacity-addition schedule, financing route or liability framework, so the 2047 figure is an aim, not a plan, until these are published.
- Private participation in a sensitive sector needs a clear regulator and safety oversight, which is the gap any enabling framework must close.
Exam Connect
Syllabus: GS Paper 3: energy security, nuclear technology, clean energy commitments.
Static Connect
- Department of Atomic Energy works under the Prime Minister; the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 is the main law on nuclear energy.
- Three-stage nuclear programme, conceived by Homi Bhabha, moves from uranium-based reactors to thorium-based systems.
Prelims pointers
- Targets named: 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070.
- Homi Bhabha is called the architect of India’s nuclear programme.
Mains takeaway: Baseload clean power for data-centre-led growth is the strongest argument for nuclear, but only a published roadmap and safety regime turn a target into capacity.
Source: PIB release 2325436
Quick Bites for Prelims
- Dushanbe address to Indian diaspora: Rajnath Singh said India contributes over 16 per cent of global growth, has FTAs with 38 countries, and that defence exports reached a record Rs 38,424 crore; these are the Minister’s figures. Defence exports and production are tracked by the Ministry of Defence. (PIB)
- Green Diwali Campaign: WWF-India’s EIACP Programme Centre, supported by MoEFCC, runs the campaign from 20 October to 8 November 2026 with a focus on the 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme, in line with Mission LiFE. (PIB)
- Shilp Samagam Mela 2026: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s 8-day mela opens in Guwahati on 21 October, with 75 artisans from SC, OBC, Safai Mitra and Denotified Tribe communities. (PIB)
- Drug-free Punjab target: Amit Shah said the Centre aims to free Punjab of the drug trade by 31 December 2029 and urged people to report drug trade on the Narcotics Control Bureau’s toll-free helpline. (PIB)
Practice Questions
Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about the UDAN scheme:
1. It was launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
2. Modified UDAN runs from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
3. Viability Gap Funding is paid by passengers to airlines on regional routes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Answer: (b)
- Statement 1 is correct. UDAN (RCS) was launched on 21 October 2016 under NCAP 2016.
- Statement 2 is correct. The next phase is a ten-year scheme from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with Rs 28,840 crore.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. VGF is financial support from the government to airlines for operating regional routes, not a payment by passengers.
Q2. Consider the following statements about the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting:
1. It was held in Dushanbe on 20 October 2026.
2. India has been a full member of the SCO since 2017.
3. The Anti-Drug Centre of the SCO is in Tashkent.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
Show answer and explanation
Answer: (c)
- Statement 1 is correct. The meeting took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 20 October 2026.
- Statement 2 is correct. India became a full SCO member in 2017.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Anti-Drug Centre is in Dushanbe; the Universal Centre is in Tashkent.
Q3. India’s stated target for nuclear power capacity by 2047 is:
- 100 GW
- 50 GW
- 75 GW
- 150 GW
Show answer and explanation
Answer: (a)
- Option (a) is correct. Dr Jitendra Singh said India targets 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, with Net Zero emissions by 2070.
- Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect. None matches the 100 GW figure given in the release.
Q4. Consider the following pairs of airports and States:
1. Tezu Airport : Arunachal Pradesh
2. Deoghar Airport : Jharkhand
3. Purnea Airport : Rajasthan
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- None
- Only one
- All three
- Only two
Show answer and explanation
Answer: (d)
- Pair 1 is correct. Tezu is in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Pair 2 is correct. Deoghar Airport serves Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand.
- Pair 3 is incorrect. Purnea Airport is in Bihar; Kishangarh is the Rajasthan airport named in the release.
Q5. Consider the following statements about the Green Diwali Campaign 2026:
1. It is run by WWF-India’s EIACP Programme Centre, supported by MoEFCC.
2. It focuses on the 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme.
3. It is being implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board.
4. It is aligned with Mission LiFE.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All four
Show answer and explanation
Answer: (c)
- Statement 1 is correct. The release names WWF-India’s PC-RP as the organiser, supported by MoEFCC.
- Statement 2 is correct. A special focus is placed on 130 NCAP cities.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. The campaign is by WWF-India’s EIACP centre, not the CPCB.
- Statement 4 is correct. The campaign is in line with Mission LiFE.
Mains Practice Questions
Q. Evaluate whether Modified UDAN’s design addresses the sustainability problem of regional air routes. (150 words, GS Paper 3)
Approach: Open with UDAN’s decade record (687 routes, 95 aerodromes, 1.72 crore passengers); then show the new design (tapered five-year VGF, three-year exclusivity, O&M support, Challenge Mode); end with the North-East gap (12 of 52 aerodromes operational).
Q. India links counter-terrorism with sovereignty-based connectivity in the SCO. Discuss India’s approach to Central Asia through the organisation. (150 words, GS Paper 2)
Approach: Cover the terror ecosystem argument, INSTC and Chabahar as alternatives, the sovereignty condition on connectivity, and SCO institutions such as the Anti-Drug Centre; conclude with limits of consensus-based forums.
FAQs
What is UDAN and when was it launched?
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) is the Regional Connectivity Scheme, launched on 21 October 2016 to make air travel on regional routes affordable and viable.
What is the outlay of Modified UDAN?
The next phase of UDAN, launched on 4 July 2026, has an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for ten years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
What did India say at the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting?
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh asked members to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism and said connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
What is India’s nuclear power target for 2047?
India targets 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070, according to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
हिंदी सारांश
उड़ान योजना ने 21 अक्तूबर 2026 को दस वर्ष पूरे किए। इन वर्षों में 687 क्षेत्रीय मार्ग और 95 हवाई अड्डे चालू हुए तथा 1.72 करोड़ यात्रियों ने उड़ान भरी। संशोधित उड़ान योजना 2026-27 से 2035-36 तक चलेगी और इसका परिव्यय 28,840 करोड़ रुपये है। रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने दुशांबे में एससीओ शासनाध्यक्ष परिषद की 25वीं बैठक को संबोधित किया। उन्होंने आतंकवाद के पूरे तंत्र को खत्म करने का आह्वान किया और कहा कि संपर्क परियोजनाएं सभी देशों की संप्रभुता और क्षेत्रीय अखंडता का सम्मान करें। केंद्रीय मंत्री डॉ. जितेंद्र सिंह ने कहा कि भारत का लक्ष्य 2047 तक 100 गीगावाट परमाणु ऊर्जा क्षमता और 2070 तक नेट ज़ीरो उत्सर्जन है।
Sources: PIB release 2325359; PIB release 2325428; PIB release 2325436; PIB release 2325589; PIB release 2325381; PIB release 2325534; PIB release 2325520.
Related reading on GSMitra: PIB News Today: 20 October 2026.
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