COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INDIA

The COVID-19 pandemic in India is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
The first case of COVID-19 in India, which originated from China, was reported on 30 January
2020. As of 26 June 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has confirmed
a total of 490,401 cases, 285,636 recoveries (including 1 migration) and 15,301 deaths in the
country. India currently has the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia, and has the fourth
highest number of confirmed cases in the world with the number of total confirmed cases
breaching the 100,000 mark on 19 May and 200,000 on 3 June. India's case fatality rate is
relatively lower at 2.80%, against the global 6.13%, as of 3 June. Six cities account for around
half of all reported cases in the country – Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pune and
Kolkata. As of 24 May 2020, Lakshadweep is the only region which has not reported a case. On
10 June, India's recoveries exceeded active cases for the first time reducing 49% of total
infections.
On 22 March, India observed a 14-hour voluntary public curfew at the instance of the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. It was followed by mandatory lockdowns in COVID-19 hotspots and
all major cities. Further, on 24 March, the Prime Minister ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21
days, affecting the entire 1.3 billion population of India. On 14 April, the PM extended the
nationwide lockdown till 3 May which was followed by two-week extensions starting 3 and 17
May with substantial relaxations. Beginning 1 June the Government has started unlocking the
country (barring containment zones) in three unlocks phases.
The United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have praised India's
response to the pandemic as 'Comprehensive and robust,' terming the Lockdown restrictions as
aggressive but vital for containing the spread and building necessary healthcare infrastructure.
The Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) noted the government's swift
and stringent actions, emergency policy making, emergency investment in healthcare, fiscal
stimulus, investment in vaccine and drug R&D. It gave India a score of 100 for its strict
response. Michael Ryan, chief executive director of the WHO's health emergencies programme
noted that India had tremendous capacity to deal with the outbreak owing to its vast experience
in eradicating smallpox and polio. In June, India was ranked 56th of 200 countries in COVID 19
safety assessment report by Deep Knowledge Group. Though, other commentators have also
raised concerns about the economic fallout arising as a result of the pandemic and preventive
restrictions. The lockdown was justified by the government and other agencies for being pre-
emptive to prevent India from entering a higher stage which could make handling very difficult
and cause even more losses thereafter
On 12 January 2020, the WHO confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory
illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei, China, which was reported to the WHO on
31 December 2019
On 30 January, India reported its first case of COVID-19 in Kerala, which rose to three cases by
3 February; all were students returning from Wuhan. Apart from these, no significant rise in
transmissions was observed in February. On 4 March 22 new cases were reported, including 14
infected members of an Italian tourist group.
In March, the transmissions grew after several people with travel history to affected countries,
and their contacts, tested positive. On 12 March, a 76-year-old man, with a travel history
to Saudi Arabia, became the first COVID-19 fatality of India.
Timeline of the pandemic spread across India (since 30 January 2020 and till 3 April 2020)
A Sikh preacher, who had a travel history to Italy and Germany, turned into a "super spreader"
by attending a Sikh festival in Anandpur Sahib during 10–12 March. Twenty-seven COVID-19
cases were traced back to him. Over 40,000 people in 20 villages in Punjab were quarantined on
27 March to contain the spread
On 31 March, a Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation event in Delhi, which had taken place
earlier in March, emerged as a new virus super spreader event, after numerous cases across the
country were traced back to it. On 18 April, the Health ministry announced that 4,291 cases were
directly linked to the event.
On 2 May, in Punjab, around 4000 stranded pilgrims returned from Hazur Sahib in Nanded,
Maharashtra. Many of them tested positive, including 27 bus drivers and conductors who had
been part of the transport arrangement. Till 13 May, 1,225 pilgrims had been tested positive.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSES
The outbreak has been declared an epidemic in more than a dozen states and union territories,
where provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 have been invoked, leading to the
temporary closure of educational and commercial establishments. All tourist visas have been
suspended, as a majority of the confirmed cases were mainly imports.
January–February
Protective measures were first applied in January. India began thermal screening of passengers
arriving from China on 21 January. Initially carried out at seven airports, it was expanded to 20
airports towards the end of January. During February, the screening was extended to passengers
from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and
Malaysia were added to the list towards the end of February. Very few new cases were
discovered during February, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) admitted that
airport screening alone was insufficient.
March
By early to mid-March, the government had drawn up plans to deal with a worsening of the
pandemic in the country. This included seven ministries working together to set up additional
quarantine and treatment facilities across the country. States and twenty ministries,
including Home, Defence, Railways, Labour, Minority Affairs, Aviation and Tourism, were
informed of the containment plan. Plans to avoid a panic-like situation were also made.
The Ministry of Textiles was to ensure the availability of protective and medical materials.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals was to ensure the availability of essential medicines.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution were asked to ensure
availability of essentials.
On 17 March, the Government of India issued an advisory, urging to all Indian states to
take social distancing measures as a preventive strategy for implementation till 31 March. A
government directive was issued asking all Central Armed Police Forces to get into battle mode;
all non-essential leave was cancelled. A COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force was also
formed.
Union and state governments set up national and state helpline numbers.
April
Major Indian cities and many states made wearing facial masks compulsory.
On 29 April, The Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines for the states to allow inter-state
movement of the stranded persons. States have been asked to designate nodal authorities and
form protocols to receive and send such persons. States have also been asked to screen the
people, quarantine them and to do periodic health check-ups.
TRAVEL AND ENTRY RESTRICTIONS
On 3 March 2020, the Indian government stopped issuing of new visas. Previously issued visas
for the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan were suspended.
All visas were suspended on 13 March, except for diplomatic and other official visas, as well as
the visa-free travel for Overseas Citizens of India. Indians returning from COVID-affected
countries were asked to be quarantined for 14 days. These measures were expanded to citizens
from Europe, Gulf countries and Asian countries including Malaysia on 17–18 March.
The land border with Myanmar began to be restricted on 9 March with the initiative of the state
governments of Mizoram and Manipur. On 13 March, the Government of India closed passenger
traffic from all neighbouring countries other than Pakistan. The traffic from Pakistan itself was
closed on 16 March. Travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib was also suspended on this
date.
SCREENING
On 4 March 2020, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, announced
compulsory screening of all international passengers arriving in India. He also stated that as of
then, 589,000 people had been screened at airports, over one million screened at borders with
Nepal and around 27,000 were under community surveillance.
CLOSEDOWN AND CURFEWS
Over the month of March, multiple states across the country began shutting down schools,
colleges, public facilities such as malls, gyms, cinema halls and other public places to contain the
spread.

 On 15 March, Ministry of Culture closed all monuments and museums

under Archaeological Survey of India.

 On 23 March, Chief Minister of Maharashtra ordered a state-wide curfew and closure of

state borders.
LOCKDOWN
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India

Empty roads during the lockdown in Vadodara, Gujarat

On 22 March, the Government of India announced complete lockdown in 82 districts in 22 states
and Union Territories of country where confirmed cases were reported. 80 cities including Delhi,
Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Kolkata were put under lockdown. Some states
sealed their borders barring inter-state movement.
On 24 March, PM Narendra Modi announced a complete 21-day national lockdown to contain
the pandemic. By 6 April, the doubling rate had slowed to six days from earlier figure of three
days.
After his consultation with CMs and administrators of states and UTs on 11 April, PM Narendra
Modi announced lockdown extension till 3 May in his address to nation on 14 April, with
conditional relaxations in areas with lower spread from 20 April.
On 1 May, the Government of India extended nationwide lockdown further by two weeks until
17 May. On 17 May, NDMA extended the lockdown till 31 May in all Indian states.
On 30 May, the MHA announced that the on-going lockdown would be further extended till 30
June in containment zones, with services resuming in a phased manner, starting from 8 June, in
other zones. It is termed as "Unlock 1" and is stated to "have an economic focus"
While generally regarded as necessary, the implementation of the lockdowns was also criticised
for worsening the problems of the people.
ZONAL CLASSIFICATION
The Government divided the entire nation into three zones – Green Zone, Red Zone, and Orange
Zone. Relaxations would be allowed accordingly.

 Red zone (Hotspots) – districts with high doubling rate and high number of active cases

 Orange zone (Non-hotspots) – districts with fewer cases

 Green zone – districts without confirmed cases or without new cases in last 21 days
COMMUNICATION AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS
'Prepare, but don't panic' has been India's guiding mantra in dealing with the virus outbreak. Our
region has reported less than 150 coronavirus cases, but we need to remain vigilant. Step-by-step
approach helped avoid panic, made special efforts to reach out to vulnerable groups.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the video conference with SAARC nations, 15 March
2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's televised address about Coronavirus on 19 March 2020

Modi's address about COVID-19 on 24 March 2020

On 19 March, during a 30-minute live telecast, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all
citizens to observe a 'Janata Curfew' (people's curfew) from 7 am to 9 pm on 22 March. During
this curfew he asked everyone, except those involved in essential services, to stay at home. He
also asked people to avoid routine check-ups and elective surgeries to reduce the burden on the
health system. He announced the formation of a COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force. To
acknowledge the work being done by various sectors during the outbreak, he urged people to
gather in front of their own doors, windows or balconies at 5 pm and applaud them for five
minutes. State and local authorities were told to blow the siren to remind people about the
same. On 24 March, Modi announced a nationwide lockdown from midnight of that day, for a
period of 21 days. He also announced a ₹150 billion (US$2.1 billion) aid for the healthcare
sector. This money would be used for developing testing facilities, PPEs, ICUs, and
Ventilators and for training medical workers. On 3 April, PM Modi addressed the nation to turn
off the lights for nine minutes and lighting the candles on 5 April.
In an address on 14 April, PM Modi asked the citizens to follow seven steps to help in the fight
against coronavirus, "Use homemade masks, Take care of elderly people, Protect jobs, Help the
poor and needy, follow the guidelines set by Ministry of AYUSH to improve immunity and
download the Aarogya Setu app to track your health."
In a live telecast on 12 May, PM Modi announced an economic package of ₹20
trillion (US$280 billion) for 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). The economic package is
nearly 10% of the GDP. He added that Special economic package was for labourers, farmers,
honest tax payers, MSMEs and cottage industries Modi added that the five main pillars India
stands on are – economy, infrastructure, governing systems, vibrant democracy and supply chain
LEGAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
On 11 March 2020, the Cabinet Secretary of India, Rajiv Gauba, announced that all states and
UTs should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
On 14 March, the union government declared the pandemic as a "notified disaster" under
the Disaster Management Act, 2005, enabling states to spend a larger part of funds from the State
Disaster Response Fund to fight the virus.
EVACUATIONS
Main article: Evacuations by India related to the COVID-19 pandemic

The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai visiting evacuees at the Coronavirus
Quarantine Centre, after completion of their requisite quarantine period, at the ITBP Chhawla
Centre, in New Delhi on 13 March 2020.
The Ministry of External Affairs under Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Air India,
The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy have been successful in evacuating many Indian
nationals and certain foreign nationals from the virus-affected areas.
The Government of India began a mega evacuation of distressed Indian citizens from across the
globe called "Vande Bharat Mission" in early May. It deployed several commercial jets, military
transport planes and naval warships in what is set to be one of the biggest-ever peacetime
repatriation exercises in history. In the first phase, around 14,800 citizens stranded in 13
countries would be brought back by 64 flights. Ministry of Civil Aviation in coordination with
the Ministry of External Affairs planned phase two of the Vande Bharat Mission to bring Indian
citizens from nearly 31 countries around the world for which 149 flights will be deployed.
LEGAL ACTIONS
On 16 March, the father of a woman, whose husband had tested positive for coronavirus
in Bengaluru, was booked by Agra police for allegedly misleading authorities about the
whereabouts of his daughter, who was a suspected patient. Luck now police lodged
an FIR against Bollywood singer, Kanika Kapoor for alleged negligence in compliance of
necessary directives posts her return from London. On 21 March, a chemist was booked for
allegedly selling N95 masks at over four times higher than the fixed price in Himachal
Pradesh's Kangra district. A case was registered against a Coca-Cola plant in Himachal
Pradesh for operating in violation of lockdown order. Hyderabad traffic police seized 2,480
vehicles for violating the lockdown. On 26 March, Delhi police arrested a 40-year-old man and
seized his Scotty for allegedly calling a north-eastern woman "coronavirus" and spitting paan at
her. On 27 March, an Infosys employee from Bengaluru was arrested for his social media post
that encouraged people to venture out and spread the virus.
STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Main article: Indian local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic
State governments took various measures to contain the spread of the virus.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
On 26 February, India sent 15 tons of masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment by
an Indian Air Force jet to China. The medical supplies sent to China include one hundred
thousand masks, five hundred thousand pairs of gloves, 75 infusion pumps, and 30 internal
feeding pumps.
On 13 March, PM Narendra Modi proposed that SAARC nations jointly fight the pandemic, an
idea that was welcomed by the leaders of Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
and Afghanistan. On 15 March, after a video conference of SAARC leaders, he
allocated ₹74 crore (US$10 million) of funds classified as COVID-19 Emergency Fund for the
SAARC countries.
On 4 April, the Government of India banned the export of hydroxychloroquine "without any
exception", to stockpile supplies for domestic use. The United States, which imports half its
supply of the drug from India and expects to use it for treating COVID-19 patients, grew
concerned. The US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Modi the next day, and hinted
at possible retaliation in a press conference. India agreed to allow its export on "humanitarian
grounds". Apart from the US, India had outstanding orders for hydroxychloroquine from some
30 countries, including Brazil, Spain, France, UK, Germany, Australia, the Gulf countries and
the SAARC neighbours. The decision to partially lift the ban preceded President Trump's
comment on possible retaliation.
On 11 April, India sent a team of 15 doctors and health care professionals to Kuwait to assist in
its fight against coronavirus, following a telephone conversion between Prime Minister Modi and
the Kuwaiti prime minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. Kuwait was facing 1,154 COVID-19
cases at this time.
On 16 April, India is sending 85 million hydroxychloroquine tablets and 500 million paracetamol
tablets to 108 countries. In addition, 1 thousand tons of mixtures have also been sent to make
paracetamol tablets.
On 10 May the Indian government sent Naval ship INS Kesari carrying medical teams, essential
medicines and food items to the Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles
following separate requests for help in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
AAROGYA SETU
Main article: Aarogya Setu
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched a smart phone application
called Aarogya Setu to help in "contact tracing and containing the spread" of COVID-19
pandemic in the nation. The World Bank lauded the early deployment of such technology to
combat the pandemic. Amid growing privacy and security concerns, the government released the
source code of the app, making it open-source on 26 May. The Government has promoted
voluntary adoption of the app in its guidelines and standard operating procedures.
ECONOMIC PACKAGE
On 12 May, the Prime Minister, in an address to the nation, said that the coronavirus crisis
should be seen as an opportunity, laying emphasis on domestic products and "economic self-
reliance", creation of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (transl. Self-reliant India) through Atmanirbhar
Bharat Abhiyan (transl. Self-reliant India Mission). He announced a 20 trillion rupees stimulus
package, equivalent to 10% of India's GDP, which was laid out in detail by the Finance
Minister in a series of tranches.
Impact
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
On 19 March, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the closure of all restaurants in
the capital by 31 March in view of the ever increasing case of coronavirus. He said that there will
be a ban on eating in restaurants but food delivery will continue. He also said that 20 or more
people will not be allowed to unite anywhere in the state. On 20 March, in Luck now all
restaurants, hotels, sweet shops have been closed till 31 March.
On 20 March, Delhi government announced that all malls in Delhi will close with only
vegetable, grocery and medicine shops remaining open. Shops in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur will
remain closed till 31 March. During this period, the essential services will continue. Medical
services will be available.
On 22 March, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has said that in view of coronavirus, the
state has ordered lockdown till 31 March. All essential government services will continue and
shops for essential goods such as food, medicines etc. will remain open. The chief minister
of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot said public vehicle will be banned till 31 March, along with all the
malls and shops will remain closed.
EDUCATION
On 16 March, the union government declared a countrywide lock-down of schools and
colleges. On 18 March, CBSE released revised guidelines for examination centres. This includes
maintaining a distance of at least 1 metre between the students taking the exam with a class not
having more than 24 students. If the rooms of the examination centres are small, divide the
students and make them sit in different rooms. On 19 March, CBSE and JEE main examinations
were postponed till 31 March.
On 20 March, Maharashtra government cancelled examinations for class 1 to 8 and promoted the
students to the next classes, whereas examinations for class 9 and 11 were postponed till 15
April. Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education postponed board exams for class 10 and
12 and asked school principals to promote or detain students of class 5 to 8 based on their
performance in previous terms. Board exams of class 10 and 12 were postponed
in Kerala. Assam government cancelled all exams till 31 March. The Union Public Service
Commission also postponed the interview for the Civil Services Examination 2019 to be held
from 23 March to 3 April. The SSC exams in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were postponed to 15
April.
ECONOMY
On 2 March, the BSE SENSEX witnessed a flash crash on the back of Union Health Ministry's
announcement of two new confirmed cases. A UN report estimated a trade impact of US$348
million on India due to the outbreak, making India one of the 15 worst affected economies across
the world. Asian Development Bank estimated that the outbreak could cause losses of up
to US$29.9 billion to India's economy. On 9 March, The BSE SENSEX closed 1,942 points
lower at 35,635 while the NSE NIFTY 50 was down by 538 points to 10,451.

Indices: S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 500 (1 January 2015 to 9 May 2020)

On 12 March, Indian stock markets suffered their worst crash since June 2017 after whose
declaration of the outbreak as a pandemic. The BSE SENSEX dropped 8.18 per cent or 2,919
points which was its lowest in 23 months while the NIFTY dropped 9 per cent or 950 points.
The Indian Space Research Organisation's GISAT-1 mission on-board GSLV which was
scheduled for its launch in April was postponed due to the lockdown.
On 1 April, the coal mining operations of Singareni Collieries Company in Telangana were
halted due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ENTERTAINMENT
The International Indian Film Academy Awards, planned to take place on 27 March, was
cancelled. Cinema halls were shut down by most state governments. Film bodies decided to stop
the production of films, TV shows and web series till 31 March. On 25 March, all video
streaming services, jointly decided to offer only SD quality content on cellular networks. They
also decided to lower the resolution to 480p to lower the stress on telecom networks throughout
the 21-day lockdown during which there would be an unprecedented surge in mobile internet
consumption since people were confined to their homes. The Indian Broadcasting
Foundation (IBF) said that four major broadcasting networks in the country have decided to
waive all fees for four channels for two months. The IBF is an organisation promoting the Indian
television industry. In a statement, the foundation said that Sony Pal, run by Sony, Star Utsav,
run by Star India, Viacom18's Colors Rishtey run by colours and Zee Anmol run by Zee TV will
be available for two months free to all viewers in the country. This offer is for all DTH and cable
networks.
EVENTS
See also: List of events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Since 7 March, the BSF has decided to conduct Wagah-Attari border ceremony without any
spectators. Padma Awards ceremony, scheduled for 3 April, stands postponed.
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS
On 17 March, it was announced that all the historic buildings in the country would remain closed
till 31 March. According to Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel, the Taj Mahal, Red
Fort and Qutub Minar and all the National Monuments and Museums under the Archaeological
Department of India will remain closed till 31 March. The Statue of Unity will be closed to
visitors till 25 March.
RELIGION
Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion
Temple Ram Mandir in the heart of Bhubaneswar.
During the lockdown, many religious institutions started live-streaming to help devotees worship
from home.
However, many revered temples and shrines, which attracted lakhs of devotees, started imposing
entry restrictions as the infection rates increased. Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai, Vaishno
Devi, Ganga Ghat (Varanasi), Har Ki Pauri, Jagannath Temple, Puri, Venkateswara Temple,
Tirumala, and the Ramanathaswamy Temple were closed to devotees even before the national
lockdown. Similarly, on 26 March, the Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad, was closed to
devotees. Many Christian churches suspended in-person mass and offered worship for their
congregants through live streaming, radio and television.
The Government announced the opening of religious places beginning 8 June under "Unlock 1"
and also released detailed guidelines for subsequent operations on 4 June.
SPORTS
The 2020 ISSF World Cup, which was to commence on 15 March in New Delhi, was
postponed. The Indian Open badminton tournament which was scheduled to be held in New
Delhi from 24 to 29 March was suspended until 12 April.
India's FIFA World Cup qualification match on 26 March against Qatar in Bhubaneswar was
postponed. The All India Football Federation suspended all matches of I-League and I-League
2nd Division from 15 March. On 14 March, the 2020 Indian Super League Final was
played behind closed doors.
On 13 March, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that the opening of 2020
Indian Premier League was postponed from 29 March to 15 April. On 16 April, BCCI suspended
the tournament indefinitely due to the pandemic.
On 13 March, BCCI cancelled the ODI matches between India and South Africa on 15 and 18
March, which were originally announced to be played without spectators.
TCS World 10 Bengaluru, the IAAF Gold Label Road Race scheduled to be held on 17 May was
postponed to 13 September.
TRANSPORT
Flights
IndiGo cancelled its Delhi-Istanbul and Chennai – Kuala Lumpur flights starting 18 March to
prevent international travel from Turkey and Malaysia. This ban will continue till 31 March. On
17 March 2020, Go Air suspended its international flights till further notice. On 19 March,
the Government of India announced that no international flights will be allowed to land in India
from 22 March. On 23 March, the union government announced the suspension of all domestic
flights in the country starting 25 March.
Railways
On 14 March, Western and Central Railways removed curtains and blankets from AC
coaches. On 17 March, Western Railways hiked platform ticket charges from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50
across 250 stations. Central Railways cancelled 23 trains. On 19 March, Tejas Express running
between Luck now Junction to New Delhi and Varanasi to Indore will remain cancelled till 31
March. On 20 March, Delhi Metro was scheduled to remain closed on 22 March due to Janata
Curfew. On 22 March, metro services across India were suspended till 31 March. On 21 March,
in view of Janata curfew, Indian Railways announced the cancellation of 3,700 trains across the
country. On 22 March, the union government cancelled all train services in the country baring
goods trains that is around 12,500 trains, and all non-essential passenger transport including
interstate transport buses. IRCTC suspended the bookings for 3 private trains till 30 April. After
the Prime Minister Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till 3 May. The Indian Railways not
only extended the suspension of all its passenger trains during the period but also suspended all
ticket bookings till further notice.
On 8 May, the Aurangabad railway accident occurred due to confusion related to the pandemic.
ROAD
On 19 March, bus services between the cities of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been
postponed from 21 to 31 March 2020. Punjab government imposed a ban on public transport
including buses, auto rickshaws and tempos from 21 March. Public transport including buses,
mini buses, maxi cabs and auto services were banned in Srinagar.
EXODUS OF MIGRANT WORKERS
Main article: Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
With factories and workplaces shut down, many migrant workers were left with no
livelihood. They thus decided to walk hundreds of kilometres to go back to their native villages,
accompanied by their families in many cases. The central government then announced that it had
asked state governments to set up immediate relief camps for the migrant workers returning to
their native states, and later issued orders protecting the rights of the migrants. In its report to
the Supreme Court of India on 30 March, the central government stated that the migrant workers,
apprehensive about their survival, moved in the panic created by fake news that the lockdown
would last for more than three months. In early May, the central government finally permitted
the Indian Railways to launch "Shramik Special" trains for the migrant workers and others
stranded, but this move had a few complications. On 26 May, the Supreme Court admitted that
the problems of the migrants had still not been solved and ordered the Centre and States to
provide free food, shelter and transport to stranded migrant workers.
Migrant workers stand in a queue for food at Delhi Govt School during COVID-19 Lockdown at
Delhi
UNEMPLOYMENT
The coronavirus lockdown in India has left tens of millions of migrant workers unemployed.
FOOD SECURITY
The lockdown disrupted food supplies and threatened to trigger a food crisis. By the first week of
April, essential industries such as growing, harvesting and food deliveries were allowed to
operate.
Relief
IMMEDIATE RELIEF
On 19 March, Kerala chief minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan announced a stimulus package
of ₹20,000 crone (US$2.8 billion) to help the state overcome both the COVID-19 epidemic and
economic hardship caused by it. On 21 March, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi
Adityanath announced ₹1,000 (US$14) to all daily wage labourers. On 22
March, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh announced ₹3,000 (US$42) to all registered construction
workers. Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao announced that white ration card holders will be
provided ₹1,500 (US$21) per family through ration shops. On 26 March, Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an economic relief package of ₹1.7 lakh
crore (US$24 billion), which would be a mix of food security and direct cash transfer, primarily
for migrant labourers and daily wage labourers. Prime Minister's National Relief Fund received
several donations – ₹3,381 crore (US$470 million) from the Central Reserve Police Force, and a
month's salary from Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Law Minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad and NCP's MPs. NCP President Sharad Pawar announced that his party's MLAs would
donate their one month's salary to Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund. RBI Governor Shaktikanta
Das permitted all banks to provide a moratorium on all loans for three months without having to
worry about NPAs and keeping their books healthy. He also laid down various measures for
injecting ₹3.74 lakh crore (US$52 billion) liquidity into the system. Saibaba Sansthan
Trust, Shirdi donated ₹51 crore (US$7.2 million) to Maharashtra CM's relief fund. The Union
Government released ₹4,431 crore (US$620 million) pay off the pending wages of daily wage
labourers who come under MGNREGA scheme. In Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal announced that if a
doctor, nurse or hygiene worker dies during treatment, their family will be provided ₹10
million (US$140,000). Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa announced ₹16.1
billion (US$230 million) relief for unorganised sectors including flower growers, washermen and
women, barbers, construction workers, auto and cab drivers, MSMEs, and weavers.
PM CARES FUND
Main article: PM CARES Fund
On 28 March, the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations
Fund (PM CARES Fund) was set up to provide relief to the affected people. Several large
business groups and PSUs contributed to the relief fund. A sum of ₹3,100 crore was announced
as the first allocation from the fund on 13 May.
GAS CYLINDERS
On 26 March, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced free gas cylinders for three
months to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
RATIONS
On 21 March, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal increased free ration from 5 kilograms to 7.5
kilograms for the 7.2 million people who are dependent on the ration scheme. On 22
March, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa announced two months of free ration for all the
people. Andhra Pradesh CM Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy announced free ration for the poor.
Telangana CM announced that white ration card holders will be provided with 12 kilograms of
free rice per person (against a monthly supply of 6 kilograms per card person) through ration
shops. On 23 March, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announced one month of free ration for all ration
card holders.
On 25 March, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that 80 crore people would be given
wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg, and rice at Rs 3 per kg. He also said that three months ration
advance would be given.
On 21 April, Arvind Kejriwal announced that 1 crore people would be given free rations in
Delhi.
MASKS AND SUPPLIES
On 25 March, Vivo said that they would be donating 100,000 surgical and 5,000 N95
masks to Maharashtra government. On 26 March, former Indian cricketers, Irfan
Pathan and Yusuf Pathan, made a donation of 4,000 masks.
On 28 March, Hyundai India announced placing an order for 25,000 COVID-19 Advanced
Diagnostic Testing Kits from South Korea.
As of 3 April 2020, Indian Railways had produced total of 2 lakh (200,000) masks and 25,000
sanitizers.
Premier universities in India such as National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, National
Institute of Technology Karnataka, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology
Hyderabad had prepared hand sanitizers and in their laboratories and started distributing to
people.
The Ministry of Textiles stated that India was producing no Personal Protective Equipment kits
before the pandemic. By May 2020, it began producing an average of 150,000 PPE kits per day.
Situation
TABLIGHI JAMAAT EVENT
Main article: 2020 Tablighi Jamaat coronavirus hotspot in Delhi
The Nizamuddin faction of the Tablighi Jamaat held a religious congregational program (Ijtema)
in Nizamuddin West, Delhi in March. The Delhi Government's order against organising
seminars, conferences or any big event (beyond 200 people) was apparently ignored by the
organisation, and the Delhi Police also failed to enforce it. The gathering emerged as one of
India's major coronavirus hotspots. The entire Nizamuddin West area was cordoned off by the
police as of 30 March, and medical camps were set up. On 18 April, the Central Government
stated that 4,291 cases (or 29.8% of the total 14,378 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India)
were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat, and these cases were spread across 23 states and Union
Territories. As of 4 April, about 22,000 people who came in contact with the Tablighi Jamaat
missionaries had to be quarantined.
PANIC BUYING
See also: Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Hyderabad witnessed panic buying throughout 20 and 21 March. Panic buying of milk and other
dairy products was also reported. Online grocery delivery service Grofers also witnessed panic
buying across states.
Retailers and consumer goods firms saw their average daily sales more than double on 19 March
as consumers rushed to buy essentials ahead of PM Narendra Modi's address to the nation. In
response to this, Modi assured the citizens that there was enough food and ration supplies and
advised them against panic buying.
ESCAPE OF SUSPECTED INFECTED PEOPLE
Several cases are reported across the country, where people who are suspected to have come in
contact with the virus, escaped from the quarantines and hospitals.
In Chhattisgarh, 35 yrs.-old man from Tagapani, Dhamtari, who was put under isolation home by
the health dept. after his return from Tamil Nadu, committed suicide.
In Gujarat, 93 people have broken self-isolation rules in 10 days. FIRs have been filed against
10.
Two expats in Kasaragod district, Kerala, who violated quarantine measures were subjected to
punitive measures, including cancellation of their Indian passports.
On 20 March, the case of a 26-year-old woman suspected of being infected with coronavirus was
reported to have fled the hospital in Punjab. The woman, who hails from Mohali, recently
returned from the US and was brought to a government hospital in Chandigarh.
On 13 March in Telangana, one woman returned from Singapore has been missing, while a man
who came from Doha went somewhere without telling hospital staff.
MISINFORMATION AND DISCRIMINATION
See also: Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and  Xenophobia and racism
related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Despite evidence to the contrary, a viral rumour spread online alleging that only people who eat
meat were affected by coronavirus, causing "#NoMeat_NoCoronaVirus" to trend on Twitter. To
curb these rumours and combat declining sales, some poultry industry associations held a
"Chicken and Egg Mela" in Hyderabad. Several Telangana state ministers were in attendance
and ate some of the free eggs and fried chicken being distributed at the event to show their
support for the industry.
Muslim cleric Ilyas Sharafuddin has stated that Allah has punished the Chinese by unleashing
coronavirus on them for their brutal crackdown on Uighur Muslims. The Chinese consulate in
Kolkata also condemned similar statements reportedly made by Dilip Ghosh, president of the
West Bengal unit of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Some politicians like Swami Chakrapani and Suman Haripriya claimed that drinking cow urine
and applying cow dung on the body can cure coronavirus. WHO's chief scientist Soumya
Swaminathan rubbished such claims and criticised these politicians for spreading
misinformation.
Reports of harassment of people from Northeast India, which shares a border
with Tibet and Myanmar, in Chennai, Pune and Hyderabad have been reported following the
outbreak. Students from Kirori Mal College in Delhi, Tata Institute of Social Sciences in
Mumbai and other institutes in Kolkata have also faced harassment and filed complaints with
authorities.
Misinformation that the government is spreading "anti-corona" drug in the country during Janata
curfew went viral on social media. Film actor Mohanlal and many others shared the fake news
that, the vibration generated by clapping together during Janata curfew will kill the virus. One
viral message says that the lifetime of coronavirus is only 12 hours and staying home for 14
hours during Janata curfew breaking the chain of transmission. Another message claimed that
observing Janata curfew will result in the reduction of coronavirus cases by 40%. Tweet
by Rajinikanth claiming that a 14-hour stay home can stop the coronavirus disease going from
"stage 2" to "stage 3" was classified as misinformation and was taken down by Twitter for
violating community guidelines. Amitabh Bachchan was heavily criticised for one of his tweets,
which claimed vibrations from clapping, blowing conch shells as part of Sunday's Janata Curfew
would have reduced or destroyed coronavirus potency as it was ‘amavasya’, the darkest day of
the month.
Residents of a village named Korauna in Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh faced discrimination
due to similarity in name of the village with the virus.
Some doctors and medical workers were evicted from their homes over fears they may be
carrying coronavirus. In cases reported across the country, healthcare professionals described the
growing stigma they are facing from their neighbours and landlords, resulting in many being
refused taxis, barricaded from their own homes, or made homeless.
In March 2020, foreigners from countries such as UK, US and Israel were facing hostility,
including evictions from rented homes.
Some patients, in different quarantine facilities of Uttar Pradesh, refused to eat food because the
cooks in these facilities were Dalits.
The Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi and the resulting hotspot triggered Islam
phobic reactions and increased communal tension. Islamophobic hashtags began circulating
shortly after the news broke in late March.
Rajasthan Congress MLA Bharat Singh Kundanpur in a letter to Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot claimed that "when coronavirus can be removed by washing hands with alcohol, then
drinking alcohol will surely remove virus from the throat." His claim was rubbished by several
health experts and doctors.
Three Sikh men in Chembur, Mumbai were brutally attacked by a stranger for asking him to
wear a mask while in public places as ordered by the government. One man was later admitted to
a nearby hospital. This incident gave rise to Sikh-Muslim communal tension in the area. The
accused was arrested by Mumbai Police.
Ramdev claimed that one can treat coronavirus by pouring mustard oil through the nose, making
the virus flowing into the stomach, resulting in its ultimate death by the acid present in the
stomach. He also claimed that if a person holds his breath for a minute, it means s/he is not
suffering from any type of coronavirus, symptomatic or asymtomatic. Both these claims were
found to be false.
When migrant workers returned to their hometowns and villages following the loss of
employment in cities, they were treated with class bias. In some cases, they were hosed down
with disinfectants or soap solution. They were feared to be carrying coronavirus from the urban
areas where they had been employed. Since many of them belonged to the lower castes, they had
to face caste slurs.
SUPPRESSION OF FACTS AND REPORTING ON COVID-19
A report titled "India: Media’s Crackdown during COVID-19 Lockdown" was published on 15th
June, 2020. Many sources state that at least 55 journalists have been heavily cracked down on for
reporting on COVID-19, with FIRs being filed against them under various Acts. The charges
have been levied for reporting starvation faced by migrant workers, the failure of the
administration to supply rations, mismanagement and negligence at quarantine centres, or any
other reporting that is construed as 'anti-government'.
UNESCO also released a brief titled "Journalism, press freedom and COVID-19" in view of how
important it is to have verified and accurate information, produced by independent media during
the time of a pandemic.
TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES, ACTIVE CASES, RECOVERIES AND DEATHS

DAILY NEW CASES

DAILY NEW DEATHS

TOTAL SAMPLES TESTED

DAILY SAMPLES TESTED

CONFIRMED CASES OF INDIAN NATIONALS ABROAD

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_India#Background
REFLECTION

GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION

Globalization is the networking and enlargement of once local products, beliefs, and
practices into universal products, beliefs, and practices often trough technology. Religion is a
collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and world views that establishes symbols that
relate humanity to spirituality and to moral values. Globalization has a great impact on religion.
As people and cultures move across the globe, as ideas are mobilized and transported by media
technology, the religious globalization will go on and on. It has its pro and cons. People should
cope with the flow of info and choose their own and peaceful way. And to our mind, finally, the
globalization will end in complete domination of one of them over the rest evidently and
hopefully, it is Islam. The most known religions across the world are Christianity, its deity is
Jesus and Christianize with the holy Bible, The Islam God is Allah and shared it with Quran,
Hinduism have many Gods, Buddhism the God is Buddha. Religion has entered the “information
age” and has globalized at accelerating rates, in the methods religions use for teaching and in
belief systems. Books, movies, cellphone apps, social /networks, charity funds, special internet
sites, religious school are the tools of uniting people all over the world on religious basis.
Religion characterizes the definition of globalization due to the fact that it can be spread more
competently than ever before through the use of different technological tools Through the use of
magazines, the media, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, commercials, podcasts, cellphone apps, and
etc. it is now possible for any religion to spread beyond national borders, letting even small new
religious movements to engage in overseas activities and leading to new unseen religious
developments.

MEDIA & GLOBALIZATION AND THE GLOBAL CITY

Globalization is a practice by means of several cultures, societies, and economies through

a global network of vocation and communication turn into integrated in all salutations. Have an
excessive power on the media and additional its impact on us. The most visible effect of
globalization is wide spread communication. Media globalization is the international assimilation
of media over the multicultural argument of ideas, despite the fact that technological
globalization refers to the multicultural progress and exchange of technology. The media have a
main on cultural globalization in two mutually dependent habits: first, the media provide a broad
worldwide program of cultural products, and second, they contribute to the construction of
communicative networks and social structures. Global media is “the mass communication on an
inclusive level, allowing individuals through the world to share and right to use the similar
information”. It is without a doubt that technologies prepared people’s lives easier all over the
world. Media is influenced through beliefs as much as the program writing or stories that they
are enclosed inside. Media cannot discharge the cultural influences. Culture delivers media with
bases for content. All contents are imitative from culture including entertainment, news and
advertisements. Global city Home to major stock exchanges and indexes. Influential in
international political affairs. Home to world-renowned cultural institutions. Service a major
media hub. Large mass transfer networks. Home to a large international airport. Having a
prominent skyline. As urbanization speeds up, particularly in Asian and African countries, here
are five of the biggest challenges confronting the future of cities: Environmental threats,
Resources, Inequality, Technology, and Governance.

MOVEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is development that contents the essentials of the present without meet

halfway, the ability of upcoming generations, assuring the balance between economic growth,
care for the environment and social welfare. Lots of the challenges in front of people, such
as climate change, water scarcity, inequality and hunger, can only be determined at a global level
and using promoting sustainable development: an assurance to social progress, environmental
balance and economic growth are the way to achieve sustainable development. The sustainability
plan is developed through the Sustainability Master Plan, a road plan that takes along together
completely Company’s initiatives. “Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." Sustainable development is well-defined as a method to developing or growing by with
properties in a mode that allows for them to renew or continue existing for others. Using
recycled resources or renewable resources when structure is a sample of sustainable
development.  important as it saves national budget, fulfils the need of people, preserves natural
resources, supports in the coordination between the natural resources and societies and protects
natural resources for future generation. However, there are important ways in which
the sustainability movement is not the same and discrete. It insists on a whole-systems approach,
whereas the environmental movement has focused on the human impact upon non-human
systems, and the new age movement has focused on spirituality and personal growth. Therefore,
sustainability is made up of three pillars: economy, society, and the environment. These
principles are also informally used as profit, people and planet.

GLOBAL MIGRATION

Global migration can be understood as a cause and effect relationship, though the causes
are just as many as their effects. People move through global borders for a variation of reasons,
together with (though not limited to): Safety. Natural disaster. Political conflict. This means that
one in every seven person in the world has new place of residence, either within their country or
moved to another country. Therefore some playwrights points out that all of us are
becoming migrants. Among the 'macro-factors', the insufficient human and economic
development of the origin country, demographic increase and urbanization, wars and
dictatorships, social factors and environmental changes are the major contributors to migration.
These are the main drivers of forced migration, both international and internal. Migration is as
old as humankind. People have always moved in search of better living conditions for
themselves and for their loved ones or escaping intense situations in their native land. There
are four major forms of migration: invasion, conquest, colonization and immigration. A person
who moves from their home due to forced displacement (such as a natural disaster or civil
disturbance) may be described as a displaced person or, if remaining in the home country, an
internally displaced person. Advantages: A richer and more diverse culture, Helps to reduce any
labour shortages, Migrants are more prepared to take on low paid, low skilled jobs.
Disadvantages: Increasing cost of services such as health care and education, Overcrowding,
Disagreements between different religions and cultures. People migrate for many
different reasons. These reasons can be classified as economic, social, political or environmental:
economic migration - moving to find work or follow a particular career path. Push and pull
factors: lack of services, lack of safety, high crime, crop failure, drought, flooding, poverty, war.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Any country's environmental problems are related to the level of its

economic development, the availability of natural resources and the lifestyle of its population. In
India, efforts are being made on for the environmental management in a sustainable manner.
Different kinds of pollution have harmed the environment as well as man's well-being. Air and
water pollution particularly contribute to air and water-borne diseases and ill-health. Ozone layer
depletion and global warming are other severe problems resulting from such degradation.
Environmental Crisis as a dramatic, unexpected, and irreversible worsening of
the environment leading to significant welfare losses. This definition includes and precludes
several things. First, the change has to be dramatic and rapid in its pace. Crisis occurs when
changes to the environment of a species or population destabilizes its continued survival. Some
of the important causes include: Degradation of an abiotic ecological factor (for example,
increase of temperature, less significant rainfalls) Increased pressures from predation. Ozone
Depletion, Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming, Desertification, Deforestation, Loss of
Biodiversity, Disposal of Waste are the major environmental problems. The environmental
problems like global warming, acid rain, air pollution, urban sprawl, waste disposal, ozone layer
depletion, water pollution, climate change and many more affect every human, animal and nation
on this planet. Human activity is causing environmental degradation, which is the deterioration
of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of
ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution. Some human
activities that cause damage (either directly or indirectly) to the environment on a global scale
include population growth, overconsumption, overexploitation, pollution, and deforestation, to
name but a few.