The Ministry of Civil Aviation signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 21 States and Union Territories on September 22, 2026, to expand the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional air connectivity scheme. The initiative aims to improve air travel access in underserved and unserved regions, especially smaller cities and remote areas. As part of the next phase, the ministry launched a Challenge Mode portal that allows states to nominate airstrips and helipads for development. The government also announced a new route-bidding round to expand regional flight services. Under the modified UDAN scheme, approved for 10 years from 2026–27 to 2035–36 with an outlay of ₹28,840 crore, the plan includes developing 100 airports and 200 modern helipads.