The Union Cabinet, led by Narendra Modi, has taken two important decisions. On Wednesday, the Cabinet approved the extension of the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration and Tracking (IVFRT) scheme beyond March 31, 2026.
The scheme will now continue for another five years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031. A total budget of ₹1,800 crore has been allocated for this period. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this information during a press briefing.
The IVFRT platform is designed to combine and simplify processes related to immigration, visa issuance, and the registration of foreigners in India.
Its main goal is to modernize these services through a secure and integrated system, improve national security, and make travel easier for genuine visitors.
The project was first approved on May 13, 2010, by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs with a budget of ₹1,011 crore and a target completion date of September 2014.
Later, in 2015, the budget was revised to ₹638.90 crore, and the deadline was extended to March 31, 2017.
After that, the scheme was extended until March 31, 2021, without any additional cost. The total spending during this period was ₹613.28 crore, compared to the revised budget of ₹638.90 crore.
On January 19, 2022, the Cabinet again approved the continuation of the scheme with a budget of ₹1,365 crore for five years, from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2026. Now, it has been extended once more for another five years.
UDAN 2.0 Scheme Approved for 10 Years
In the same meeting, the Cabinet also approved the revised UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme, also known as UDAN 2.0.
This scheme will be implemented for ten years, from the financial year 2026-27 to 2035-36. The central government has allocated a total budget of ₹28,840 crore for this program.
Both decisions are expected to strengthen India’s security, improve connectivity, and support overall development.
