Jump to content

Indian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The first responses of the government of India to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country involved thermal screenings of passengers arriving from China, the country from which the coronavirus disease 2019 originated, as well as of passengers arriving from other countries. As the pandemic spread worldwide, the Indian government recommended social distancing measures and also initiated travel and entry restrictions. Throughout March 2020, several shutdowns and business closures were initiated, and by the end of the month, the Indian government ordered a widespread lockdown. An economic package was announced in May 2020.

Background

[edit]

On 11 January 2020, the WHO confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in India City, Jaipur, India, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[1][2]

Initial measures

[edit]

January–February 2020

[edit]

Protective measures were first applied in January. India began thermal screening of passengers arriving from China on 21 January.[3] Initially carried out at seven airports, it was expanded to 20 airports towards the end of January.[4] During February, the screening was extended to passengers from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.[5] Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia were added to the list towards the end of February.[6] Very few new cases were discovered during February, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) admitted that airport screening alone was insufficient.[7]

March 2020

[edit]
Awareness poster released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

India reported its first case of COVID-19 in January 2020, and by March 2020, the government implemented a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. However, this lockdown resulted in significant economic disruption and social challenges, particularly for the millions of informal workers who lost their livelihoods. 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.[8] 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 was asked to ensure availability of essentials.[9]

On 17 March, the Government of India issued an advisory, urging all Indian states to take social distancing measures as a preventive strategy for implementation till 31 March.[10] A government directive was issued asking all Central Armed Police Forces to get into battle mode; all non-essential leave was cancelled.[11][12] A COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force was also formed.[13][14] The COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force was tasked with formulating and implementing policies and measures to minimize the economic impact of the pandemic on various sectors in India.

Union and state governments set up national and state helpline numbers.[15]

April 2020

[edit]

Despite the early lockdown, India's COVID-19 cases surged in September 2020, with over 90,000 cases reported daily. The country's healthcare system struggled to cope with the rapid increase in cases, leading to shortages of hospital beds, medical oxygen, and other essential supplies. The government launched several initiatives to address these shortages, including converting public buildings into COVID-19 care centers and increasing domestic production of medical supplies. Unfortunately, the second wave of COVID-19 hit India in April 2021, resulting in even higher numbers of cases and deaths than the first wave. Major Indian cities and many states made wearing facial masks compulsory.[16]

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 checkups.[17]

India's Health Ministry published its Guidelines on COVID-19 management, which included approval of hydroxychloroquine. These guidelines were later criticized by physician Anup Agarwal for "disregarding the evidence [on the drug's inefficacy]".[18]

Travel and entry restrictions

[edit]

On 3 March 2020, the Indian government stopped issuing of new visas. Previously issued visas for the nationals of Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Italy were suspended.[19]

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.[20][21] These measures were expanded to citizens from Europe, Gulf countries and Asian countries including Malaysia on 17–18 March.[22][23]

The land border with Myanmar began to be restricted on 9 March with the initiative of the state governments of Mizoram and Manipur.[24][25] On 13 March, the Government of India closed passenger traffic from all neighbouring countries other than Pakistan.[26] The traffic from Pakistan itself was closed on 16 March.[27] Travel and registration for Sri Kartarpur Sahib was also suspended on this date.[28]

Screening

[edit]

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.[29][30]

Closedown and curfews

[edit]

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.

Lockdown

[edit]
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 the Union Territories of the country where confirmed cases were reported.[33] 80 cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai,[34] Chandigarh[35] and Kolkata were put under lockdown.[36] Some states sealed their borders barring inter-state movement.[37]

On 24 March, PM Narendra Modi announced a complete 21-day national lockdown to contain the pandemic.[38] By 6 April, the doubling rate had slowed to six days from earlier figure of three days.[39]

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.[40][41]

On 1 May, the Government of India extended nationwide lockdown further by two weeks until 17 May.[42] On 17 May, NDMA extended the lockdown till 31 May in all Indian states.[43]

On 30 May, it was announced that lockdown restrictions were to be lifted from then onwards, while the lockdown would be further extended till 30 June for only the containment zones. Services would be resumed in a phased manner starting from 8 June. It was termed as "Unlock 1.0".[44] PM Modi later clarified that the lockdown phase in the country was over and that 'unlock' had already begun.[45]

While generally regarded as necessary,[46] the implementation of the lockdowns was also criticised for worsening the problems of the people.[47][48]

Zonal classification

[edit]

The Government Divided the entire nation into three zones – Green Zone, Red Zone, Orange Zone. Relaxations would be allowed accordingly.[49][50][51]

  • 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

[edit]

'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.[52]

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 checkups 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.[53] On 24 March, Modi announced a nationwide lockdown from midnight of that day, for a period of 21 days.[54] He also announced a 150 billion (US$1.8 billion) aid for the healthcare sector. This money would be used for developing testing facilities, PPEs, ICUs, Ventilators and for training medical workers.[55] On 3 April, PM Modi addressed the nation to turn off the lights for nine minutes and lighting the candles on 5 April.[56]

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."[57]

In a live telecast on 12 May, PM Modi announced an economic package of 20 trillion (US$240 billion) for 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' (self reliant India).[58] 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[59] Modi added that the five main pillars India stands on are – economy, infrastructure, governing systems, vibrant democracy and supply chain.[60]

Economic package

[edit]

On 12 May 2020, 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.[61][62] During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, Finance Minister announced a ₹1.70 Lakh Crore($24 billion) relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor.[63]

  • ₹500 each to 19.86 crore women Jan Dhan account holders.
  • LPG cylinders to be provided to 8 crore poor families for the next three months free of cost.
  • ₹1,000 for senior citizens to tide over difficulties during the next three months.
  • As of 11 April, ₹28,256 crores($4 billion) were disbursed through PMGKY to nearly 32 crore beneficiaries.[64]
  • Rs 50,000-Crore in Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan for returnee migrant workers.[65]
[edit]

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.[66][67]

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.[68][69]

Evacuations

[edit]
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.[70][71][72]

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 exercise in history. In the first phase, around 14,800 citizens stranded in 13 countries would be brought back by 64 flights.[73][74][75]

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.[76]

Law enforcement

[edit]

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.[77] Lucknow police lodged an FIR against Bollywood singer, Kanika Kapoor for alleged negligence in compliance of necessary directives post her return from London.[78] 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.[79] A case was registered against a Coca-Cola plant in Himachal Pradesh for operating in violation of lockdown order.[80] Hyderabad traffic police seized 2,480 vehicles for violating the lockdown.[81] On 26 March, Delhi police arrested a 40-year-old man and seized his scooty for allegedly calling a northeastern woman "coronavirus" and spitting paan at her.[82] 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.[83]

Amidst rampant profiteering, black marketing, fraud and hoarding in relation to the pandemic, Delhi Police had filed over 600 cases and arrested over 300 people until 22 May 2021.[84][85] Uttar Pradesh arrested around 160 people for pandemic related crimes.[86] Mumbai Police informed the court that at least 2000 people in Mumbai in nine different private vaccination camps were administered fake vaccines.[87] Kolkata Police and the West Bengal state health department found "dust and some liquid" from vaccines at a fake vaccination site in the state.[88]

Judiciary

[edit]

India's judiciary has been active during the pandemic, trying to ensure accountability among other things.[89] In early May 2021, the Supreme Court of India set up a 12-member task force to take up the availability of medical oxygen in the country.[90] Amid the pandemic and cases of the government restricting criticism, the Supreme Court upheld free flow of information.[91][92]

International relations

[edit]

2020

[edit]

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 included one hundred thousand masks, five hundred thousand pairs of gloves, 75 infusion pumps, and 30 internal feeding pumps.[93]

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.[94] On 15 March, after a video conference of SAARC leaders,[52] he allocated 74 crore (equivalent to 87 crore or US$10 million in 2023) of funds classified as COVID-19 Emergency Fund for the SAARC countries.[52]

On 4 April, the Government of India banned the export of hydroxychloroquine "without any exception", to stockpile supplies for domestic use.[95] 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".[96] 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.[97]

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.[98][99]

On 16 April, India sent 85 million hydroxychloroquine tablets and 500 million paracetamol tablets to 108 countries. In addition, one thousand tons of paracetamol granules were also sent to make paracetamol tablets.[100]

On 10 May the Indian government sent Naval ship INS Kesari, which carried 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.[101] [102]

2021

[edit]

On 11 April, the Indian government announced it would ban the export of remdesivir, citing a growing domestic demand for the drug.[103]

Aarogya Setu

[edit]

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.[104][105][106]

Free medicines for COVID-19 provided by Govt of Madhya Pradesh

Public opinion

[edit]

According to two opinion polls by Morning Consult and CVoter in May 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval ratings had dropped to its lowest in a number of years. However he still remains the most popular politician in India.[107]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Coronavirus: Thermal screening of passengers flying in from China at 7 airports". The Economic Times. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Alarming spread: on novel coronavirus outbreak". The Hindu. 29 January 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  5. ^ M.K, Neetu Chandra Sharma,Nidheesh (15 February 2020). "Passengers coming from Japan and South Korea will also be screened for COVID-19". Livemint. Retrieved 2 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Coronavirus: Indian Airports To Now Screen Passengers From Four More Countries Including Nepal". Outlook. 23 February 2020.
  7. ^ Pulla, Priyanka (28 March 2020). "ICMR Study Suggests Its Testing Strategy Was Flawed, Airport Screening a Miss". The Wire Science.
  8. ^ Mishra, Mihir (12 March 2020). "Covid-19: Seven ministries to set up quarantine facilities". The Economic Times. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Coronavirus outbreak: Govt working on a 'containment plan'". The Economic Times. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Govt calls for social distancing". livemint. 17 March 2020.
  11. ^ "COVID-19: Government asks CAPFs to axe non-essential leaves of troops, get into 'battle mode'". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  12. ^ Sharma, Neeta (18 March 2020). Srinivasan, Chandrashekar (ed.). "'Enter Battle Mode,' Paramilitary Forces Told After Virus Infects Soldier". NDTV. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  13. ^ "COVID-19: Task Force to deal with economic challenges | DD News". ddnews.gov.in. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  14. ^ "PM Narendra Modi forms economic response task force, calls for 'Janata Curfew'". The Economic Times. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Coronavirus Helpline Numbers" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Coronavirus: India makes face masks mandatory for more than 300m people, punishable by up to six months in prison". The Independent. 10 April 2020.
  17. ^ "MHA allows movement of migrants, tourists, students stranded at various places". Livemint. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  18. ^ Agarwal, Anup (29 April 2021). "Misinformed and misleading". The Hindu.
  19. ^ "Advisory: Travel and Visa restrictions related to COVID-19". Bureau of Immigration.
  20. ^ "India Suspends All Tourist Visas Till April 15 Over Coronavirus: 10 Facts". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  21. ^ "India suspends visas in attempt to contain coronavirus spread". Al Jazeera. 12 March 2020.
  22. ^ Perappadan, Bindu Shajan (16 March 2020). "Travel from EU, U.K. banned as India tightens preventive steps". the hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Coronavirus Pandemic: India bans entry of passengers from these countries with immediate effect". The Financial Express. 17 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Coronavirus: Mizoram's international borders to be sealed". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 9 March 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Covid-19: India closes border with Myanmar in Manipur". The Times of India – Videos. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  26. ^ "GuidelinesDT13032020.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Restriction on international passenger traffic through Land Check Posts in view of the spread of COVID-19" (PDF). mohfw.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Coronavirus: Pilgrimage to Kartarpur Sahib suspended". The Week. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Passengers Of All International Flights To Be Screened For Virus: Centre". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Coronavirus: All international arrivals to India to share travel history at airports". The Economic Times. 4 March 2020.
  31. ^ "All ASI-protected monuments, central museums across India to be shut till March 31: Govt". Outlook.
  32. ^ "Uddhav Thackeray imposes curfew in entire Maharashtra". The Economic Times. 23 March 2020.
  33. ^ "82 districts under lockdown over Covid-19: What is shut and where". Hindustan Times. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  34. ^ Marpakwar, Prafulla (23 March 2020). "Poor public response pushed govt to declare lockdown in Mumbai". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Chandigarh orders lock down till March 31". The Hindu. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  36. ^ Gunasekar, Arvind; Bhattacharji, Chetan (23 March 2020). "Coronavirus: 80 Cities Across India Go Into Lockdown Till March 31. What It Means". NDTV. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Coronavirus outbreak: States impose lockdown in battle against Covid-19 | All you need to know". India Today. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  38. ^ "Narendra Modi on Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: India under complete shutdown for 21 days starting 12 pm tonight, says PM". Firstpost.
  39. ^ Ramesh, Sandhya (14 April 2020). "R0 data shows India's coronavirus infection rate has slowed, gives lockdown a thumbs up". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  40. ^ "PM Modi announces extension of lockdown till 3 May". Livemint. 14 April 2020.
  41. ^ "Telangana CM suggests lockdown extension by two weeks". Business Insder. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  42. ^ "Lockdown extended till 17 May: What will open, remain closed". Livemint. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  43. ^ "Coronavirus lockdown extended till 31 May, says NDMA". livemint. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  44. ^ Sharma, Neeta (30 May 2020). Ghosh, Deepshikha (ed.). ""Unlock1": Malls, Restaurants, Places Of Worship To Reopen June 8". NDTV. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  45. ^ "Lockdown phase over, says Modi". The Hindu. 17 June 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  46. ^ "'Lockdown in India was early, far-sighted and courageous': WHO envoy – india news". Hindustan Times. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  47. ^ Nanda, Rupashree (1 May 2020). "Lockdown & Labour Pain: The Demand for MNREGA Work Has Never Been so Strong, Says Economist Jean Dreze". News18. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  48. ^ The Economist, "Pandemic trade-offs", 4 April 2020, page 14.
  49. ^ "2 More Weeks Of Lockdown Starting May 4". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  50. ^ "Classification of zones for COVID-19". Business Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  51. ^ "Full list of Red, Yellow, Green Zone districts for Lockdown 3.0". India Today. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  52. ^ a b c "India offers $10 mn for coronavirus emergency fund: PM Modi to SAARC leaders". Livemint. 15 March 2020.
  53. ^ "'Janata Curfew' and other highlights from PM Modi's address to the nation". Livemint.
  54. ^ "COVID-19: Indian PM Modi announces complete lock down starting March 25". Gulf News. 24 March 2020.
  55. ^ "Rs 15,000 crore allotted for healthcare to fight coronavirus, says PM Modi". businesstoday.in. 24 March 2020.
  56. ^ "PM Modi urges countrymen to dispel the darkness spread by coronavirus by lighting a candles on April 5". The Economic Times. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  57. ^ "PM Modi's lockdown speech highlights: 'India did not wait for the problem to grow'". 15 April 2020.
  58. ^ "PM Modi announces ₹20 trillion stimulus package to restart economy". Livemint.
  59. ^ "PM announces Lockdown 4.0; Rs 20 lakh crore package for 'self reliant' India". The Economic Times.
  60. ^ "Coronavirus lockdown: Modi announces ₹20-lakh-crore package". The Hindu.
  61. ^ Misra, Udit (13 May 2020). "PM Modi's self-reliant India Mission economic package: Here is the fine print". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  62. ^ Agarwal, Nikhil (13 May 2020). "Sitharaman announces EPF relief, TDS rate cut; ITR filing deadline extended". Livemint. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  63. ^ "Finance Minister announces Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus". 26 March 2020.
  64. ^ "Yahoo Search - Web Search". in.search.yahoo.com.
  65. ^ "PM Modi Launches Rs 50,000-Crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan For Migrant Workers". Odisha TV. 20 June 2020.
  66. ^ "The 123-year-old law that India may invoke to counter coronavirus". The Economic Times. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  67. ^ "To combat coronavirus, India invokes provisions of colonial-era Epidemic Diseases Act: A look at what this means". Firstpost. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  68. ^ Srinivasan, Chandrashekar, ed. (14 March 2020). "India Declares Coronavirus A Notified Disaster". NDTV. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  69. ^ "India declares coronavirus outbreak as a notified disaster". Livemint. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  70. ^ Roche, Elizabeth (27 February 2020). "Coronavirus: Special flights land in Delhi after evacuation from Japan, China". Livemint. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  71. ^ "India offered to evacuate students of all neighbours, says Jaishankar on Pak students in Wuhan". Hindustan Times. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  72. ^ "IAF evacuates 112 from coronavirus-hit Wuhan; Air India repatriates Indian crew from cruise ship". India Today. 27 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  73. ^ "15,000 Indians, 7 days, 13 countries, 64 flights: Govt's mega evacuation plan starts". Livemint. 6 May 2020.
  74. ^ "Vande Bharat Mission: Air India to begin massive evacuation ops". Outlookindia.
  75. ^ "Vande Bharat Mission: How Air India plans to execute massive evacuation ops". livemint.
  76. ^ "Vande Bharat mission phase 2: 149 AI flights to 31 countries". The Indian Express. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  77. ^ "India's first coronavirus FIR: Father of infected techie's wife booked for 'misleading authorities'". The Week.
  78. ^ "Kanika Kapoor booked for negligence after leaving a trail of quarantined VIPs". Hindustan Times.
  79. ^ "FIR against Chemist for Selling N95 Masks at Four Times of Fixed Price in HP's Kangra". News18 India. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  80. ^ "FIR against Coca Cola factory in HP for violation of coronavirus lockdown". Livemint.
  81. ^ Network, Newsmeter (24 March 2020). "Hyderabad traffic police seize 2,480 vehicles for violating lockdown". NewsMeter. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  82. ^ "Man Arrested For Calling Northeast Woman "Corona", Spitting On Her: Delhi Police". NDTV.
  83. ^ "Infosys Employee Arrested Over "Spread-The-Virus" Post, Company Sacks Him". NDTV. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  84. ^ "More than 300 held for crimes exploiting Covid-19 crisis, says Delhi Police". Business Standard India. PTI. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  85. ^ "Delhi: 113 FIRs filed over Covid profiteering". The Indian Express. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  86. ^ Kumar, Hari; Gettleman, Jeffrey (17 May 2021). "'This is a moral crisis': Desperate India falls prey to Covid-19 scammers". Business Standard India. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  87. ^ Gokhale, Omkar (24 June 2021). "Over 2000 people administered fake vaccines, Mumbai Police tells High Court". The Indian Express. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  88. ^ Rajaram, Prema (24 June 2021). "Kolkata cops seize 'dust and liquid' vials from fake vaccination site where TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty took jab". India Today. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  89. ^ Krishnan, Murali (7 May 2021). "COVID: Indian courts demand government accountability". DW. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  90. ^ Rawal, Swapnil (10 May 2021). "'Mark of Centre's failure': Sena on Supreme Court-constituted Covid task force". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  91. ^ "Free flow: SC upholds transparency in communication of information". Telegraph India. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  92. ^ Mascarenhas, Anuradha (8 May 2021). "PM Modi's attempts to stifle criticism during Covid pandemic 'inexcusable': Lancet". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  93. ^ "India provided 15 tonnes of medical supplies worth Rs 2.11 crore to coronavirus-hit China: Government". The Economic Times. 18 March 2020.
  94. ^ "PM Modi bats for joint Saarc strategy to fight coronavirus, gets prompt support from neighbours". The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  95. ^ Krishnan, Vidya (7 April 2020). "Stuck in a policy haze, government takes back export ban on COVID-19 related drug HCQ". The Caravan.
  96. ^ Bengali, Shashank; Krishnan, Vidya (7 April 2020). "India says it will ship hydroxychloroquine to U.S. after Trump threatens retaliation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  97. ^ Basu, Nayanima (7 April 2020). "India partially lifts ban on export of hydroxychloroquine to help US, others fight Covid-19". ThePrint. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  98. ^ Roche, Elizabeth (11 April 2020). "Covid-19: India sends a team of doctors, medical staff to Kuwait". Livemint. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  99. ^ "Rapid response team from India reaches Kuwait to combat COVID-19". Gulf News. 11 April 2020.
  100. ^ "India dials up medical diplomacy, sends 85 mn HCQ tablets to 108 countries". Hindustan Times. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  101. ^ Roche, Elizabeth (10 May 2020). "India sends food and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar". LiveMint. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  102. ^ "India sends medical assistance to five friendly nations". The Economic Times. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  103. ^ Alfonso, Fernando (11 April 2021). "India bans export of anti-viral drug remdesivir as Covid-19 cases rise". CNN. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  104. ^ "Aarogya Setu app, India has shown the way, says World Bank | India News – Times of India". The Times of India. 13 April 2020.
  105. ^ "How to use Aarogya Setu app and find out if you have coronavirus symptoms". The Economic Times. 15 April 2020.
  106. ^ Aryan, Aashish (28 May 2020). "Explained: What making Aarogya Setu open-source means". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  107. ^ Miglani, Sanjeev; Ghoshal, Devjyot (18 May 2021). "PM Modi's rating falls to new low as India reels from COVID-19". Reuters. Retrieved 21 May 2021.