With reference to the drone-based mail transmission service launched by the Department of Posts in June 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The service was first operationalized on a route between Mandi Head Post Office and Rehardhar Branch Post Office in Himachal Pradesh . 2. The drone-based transmission reduced the transit time for the 12-kilometer journey from over two hours to approximately seven minutes . 3. The Department of Posts plans to expand this initiative to 150 identified routes across Himachal Pradesh and Assam within the next few months. Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 3 In News Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced the launch of drone-based mail and parcel transmission by the Department of Posts in June 2026. Key Points Statement 1 is correct: The initiative was effective from 12th June 2026 , connecting the Mandi Head Post Office to the Rehardhar Branch Post Office in Himachal Pradesh as its first operational route. Statement 2 is correct: The Rehardhar Branch Post Office is located about 12 kilometers from Mandi. Previously, conventional arrangements took over two hours , but the drone service reduced this to seven minutes . Statement 3 is correct: Following the success of the first route, the Department of Posts has planned deployment across approximately 150 identified routes in Himachal Pradesh and Assam over the next two to three months . Additional Information The drone service allows for real-time tracking and is considered an environmentally sustainable mode of transportation. The move aimed to address feedback from Gramin Dak Sevaks regarding the difficulty of connectivity in remote and mountainous terrains . Important Points The initiative is expected to improve access to essential postal services for local communities, fostering social and economic inclusion in difficult regions.