ICMR got approval from Centre to explore the use of drones to supply Covid-19 vaccines

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was granted a conditional exemption by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday to conduct a feasibility analysis of the Covid-19 vaccine delivery using drones in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

The exemption is effective for one year or until further orders, according to a statement from the civil aviation ministry.

In February, the ICMR applied for permission to perform a feasibility study on using drones to distribute Covid-19 vaccines. The DGCA would have to approve the medical research body's standard operating procedures (SOPs), according to the government.

Several organisations and civic bodies have also been given conditional exemptions to conduct studies using drones. The municipal corporations of Dehradun, Haldwani, Haridwar, and Rudrapur are responsible for creating a GIS-based property database and an electronic tax registry, as well as the West Central Railway divisions of Kota and Katni, which are responsible for train accident sites and ensuring the protection of railway properties.

In addition, Vedanta Ltd. (Cairn Oil & Gas) was granted a conditional drone use exemption for asset inspection and mapping data acquisition.

“These exemptions would only be applicable if all of the requirements and limits set out for each entity are strictly followed. The exemption will become null and void if any of the conditions are not met, and action by the MoCA and DGCA will be taken,” the ministry stated.