In News: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Aviation Ministry will launch the Krishi Udan scheme to assist farmers in transporting agricultural products so that it improves their “value realisation”.
Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation
About Krishi Udan
- Beneficiaries: Every farmer of the country
- Benefits: Providing proper market national and international crops in time
- Purpose: To protect the crop of the farmer from ruin and provide maximum value to the farmer.
- Krishi Udan will be launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on international and national routes.
- This will immensely help improve value realisation on agricultural products, especially in the north-east and tribal districts
- It will be important to transport the crop of the farmers from one place to another with the help of special planes in time so that the farmer can reach the proper market before the crop gets spoiled.
- As a result, there will be an increase in the income of the farmers, which will help in doubling the income of agriculture announced by the central government.
- Under scheme financial incentives by the central government and the state government in terms of concession from airport operators to select airlines made available .
- Under this scheme bringing perishable things like milk, fish, meat etc. through airplanes is brought to the appropriate market at the earliest.
UDAN: Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik
- Launched 2016 by Ministry of Civil Aviation
- Civil Aviation Ministry’s Regional Connectivity Scheme
- UDAN is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market. It is a market-based mechanism in which airlines bid for seat subsidies. This first-of-its-kind scheme globally will create affordable yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes so that flying becomes affordable to the common man even in small towns.
- The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to unserved and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years.
- The selected airline operator would have to provide a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 40 UDAN Seats ( subsidized rates ) on the UDAN Flights for operations through fixed wing aircraft and a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 Seats on the Flights for operations through helicopters.
- The fare for a one hour journey of appx. 500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for a 30 minute journey on a helicopter would now be capped at Rs. 2,500, with proportionate pricing for routes of different stage lengths / flight duration.
- This would be achieved through
- financial stimulus in the form of concessions from Central and State governments and airport operators
- Viability Gap Funding to the interested airlines to kick-off operations from such airports so that the passenger fares are kept affordable.
Source: PIB and Indian Express
