Context: Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched “Lifeline Udan” flights as part of India’s war against COVID-19 under which it supplied 37.63 tonnes of medical supplies across country.
About Lifeline Udan

• Its primary objective is transportation of medical and essential supplies across the country and beyond.
• The carriers involved in Lifeline Udan operations include Air India, Alliance Air, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pawan Hans.
• It is being supported by Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAICLAS (cargo and logistics subsidiary of AAI), AI Airports Services (AIASL), PPP airports and private ground handling entities.
• Private carriers like IndiGo, Spicejet and Blue Dart are operating medical cargo flights on a commercial basis.
• The flights are being coordinated by a control room set up at Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) under the direct supervision of the MoCA leadership.
• The Lifeline Udan cargo includes COVID-19 related reagents, enzymes, medical equipment, testing kits, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks, gloves and other accessories required by Corona Warriors across the country.
• The Lifeline Udan flights are planned using a hub and spoke model.
• North East Region (NER) is being connected by Lifeline Udan through the regional hubs in Kolkata, Bagdogra and Guwahati.
• A website for Lifeline Udan flights has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) and MoCA to enable seamless coordination between various agencies.

About UDAN scheme

• UDAN scheme was launched on 27 April 2017. It functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India).
• The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) is known as Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN).
• The main objective of the scheme is to make air travel affordable and possible in the country. It also aims to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states of India.
• The airlines compete to win subsidies to operate flights that link small airports with bigger airports in the country