The Indian government has revived numerous pre-independence airstrips into operational airports under the UDAN scheme, as confirmed by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in Lok Sabha on December 17-18, 2025. Operational airports have surged from 74 in 2014 to over 160, enabling major airlines and smaller Northeast operators to enhance regional connectivity, with the scheme extended for 10 more years to democratize air travel. Key dates include UDAN’s 2016 launch and recent Budget 2025 modifications targeting 120 new destinations. From an Indian strategic perspective, this bolsters security by improving rapid troop mobility and surveillance in border areas like the Northeast, fostering economic integration amid tensions with China, while supporting underserved regions for balanced national development.