It further recommended that NAL should carry out a formal techno-economical feasibility study of a multi role light transport aircraft (LTA – renamed SARAS in October 1993).

The feasibility study (November 1989) showed that there was a significant demand for a 9–14 seat multi-role LTA in the country and estimated a market potential of about 250–350 aircraft in the next 10 years.

[8] As of 14 February 2017, the reconfigured first prototype had been handed over to the IAF's Aircraft & Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), which had conducted a few low-speed ground runs.

The National Aerospace Lab's (NAL) director Jitendra J. Jadhav is said to be looking at putting the Saras back into the air by June–July, though officers on the programme seem to think August–September was a more likely timeframe.

The revised prototype first flew on 24 January 2018 from HAL Airport for 40 minutes, reaching 8,500 ft (2,600 m) and 145 kn (269 km/h) before evaluating system performance over 20 flights to freeze the production design.

[10] In a press conference during Aero India 2019, it was revealed that ₹6,000 crores were released for the production of the aircraft as NAL had got the certification for its improved version recently.

[11] Additional improvements include a pair of 1200 shaft horsepower engines and 104-inch diameter propeller to cater the requirement of second segment climb gradient.

[15] NAL has completed basic testing for pre-production standard and aims for certification in 4 years to produce first aircraft in following one-and-a-half-year.

[21] On 14 May 2022, NAL started taxi trials of locally developed digital anti-skid braking system on Saras PT1N that will help landing on shorter runways.

The Kanpur unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd will manufacture these planes", The aircraft would be used for coastal surveillance as well as training young cadets on transport flying.

[2] Indian Air Force – 60 aircraft (intended) On 6 March 2009, 2 Indian Air Force test pilots, Wing Commander Praveen Kotekoppa and Wing Commander Dipesh Shah along with a Flight Test Engineer Squadron Leader Ilayaraja, were killed when the second prototype Saras aircraft operating Flight 49, crashed and caught fire in an open field near Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore.

"[28][29] Data from NAL,[30]General characteristics Performance Avionics Integrated digital avionics system using ARINC 429 data bus interfaces Full glass cockpit: EFIS-Four PFD/ ND/ MFDsComm/Nav suite: VHF-VOR and radio, ADF, DME, ILS TAWS- Terrain Avoidance Warning SystemFMS: Flight Management SystemTCAS: Traffic Collision Avoidance System Auto pilot and Weather Radar