UDAN 5.1 Scheme: After 4 successful rounds of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched UDAN 5.1 to further enhance the connectivity to remote areas of the country and achieve last mile connectivity through helicopters.An increase in the scope of operations for operators wherein the scheme will now allow routes where one of the origin or destination locations is in a priority area. Earlier both points had to be in priority areas.Airfare caps have been reduced by as much as 25% to make flying in helicopters more affordable for passengers. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) caps for the operators have been increased substantially for both single and twin-engine helicopters to enhance financial viability for operating the awarded routes.
Previous rounds of the scheme have already operationalised 46 helicopter routes, benefiting hilly and North-East states. The current round aims to cover an even larger number of routes, expanding the reach of air connectivity.
UDAN Scheme: UDAN- Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.The scheme was initiated in October 2016 with the objective of fulfilling the aspirations of the common citizen, with an enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities.The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and airports. Nodal Ministry- Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Har Shikhar Tiranga (HST) Mission: It is a unique expedition to hoist the national flag on the highest point of every state of India for the first time.It is a campaign under the aegis of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to take the tricolour to all the states of the country and hoist it on the summits to commemorate India’s G20 presidentship.It is the brainchild of Colonel Jamwal who is a veteran of more than 52 successful expeditions and is the only Indian to have summited Mount Everest three times and climbed the Seven Summits, touching the highest points of the seven continents.The summit will begin from summiting Mt. Reo Purgyil in Himachal Pradesh and end at Mt Jongsong in Sikkim.The lowest in terms of elevation will be Someshwar Fort in Bihar which is around 800 m.Highest climbable mountain in India: The highest peak under Indian control is Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) in Sikkim but is closed for climbs.The next is Nanda Devi (7,816 m) but it’s a world heritage site and national biosphere reserve.Thus the highest climbable mountain in India is Mt Kamet (7,756 m) in Uttarakhand.
NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System): It is a medium-range ground-based air defense system.It is designed to engage air targets at low and medium altitudes in all weather conditions.It was designed and developed jointly by Raytheon (United States) and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway).It is best suited to defend important stationary assets, such as key military assets, infrastructure, or cities.It is the world’s first networked short- and medium-range air defense system that could integrate with other equipment and air defense systems.It features an X-Band, 360-degree phased array air defense radar with a 75-kilometer range to identify targets.The NASAMS is armed with three launchers, each carrying up to six missiles.The system can engage 72 targets simultaneously in active and passive modes.
