<span style="color: #222222;">The Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Project on delivery of COVID-19 vaccine which was launched in Manipur on 2nd of October in his 82nd Mann Ki Baat (MKB) aired through AIR Networks on Sunday.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It may be mentioned that the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya launched delivery of COVID-19 vaccine by UAV or drone in Bishnupur district of Manipur. Shri Mandaviya launched the initiative through virtual mode from Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The delivery of COVID-19 vaccine by drone is being taken up by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its project- Drone Resource and Outreach in North East India (i-DRONE). During the field testing, the drone successfully delivered COVID-19 vaccine from Loukoipat to Karang Island in Bishnupur.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Covering a distance of 25 kilometres, the drone-based vaccine transportation took approximately 15 minutes to deliver which, otherwise will take about one hour to deliver through road transport.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">ICMR officials also mentioned that time that the i-DRONE project was started for the first time in Manipur to field test vaccine delivery in difficult terrains of the country with study sites selected from four districts.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Shri Narendra Modi also mentioned the biggest festival of Manipur Ningol Chakouba in his MKB today. The festival will be held in the first week of next month in the State.</span><br />