It is widely known that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a video conference with the Chief Ministers of various Indian states, yesterday (April 27th)! The PM's Office had issed a Press release, mentioning the salient points of the meet. However, we now receive information from sources in the know that 11 Indian states are in favour of extending the lockdown post the May 3rd deadline. India originally trialled a nation-wide curfew on March 21st, by the name of Janata Curfew. The Central Government then announced a nation-wide lockdown from March 25th, till April 14th. However, with the unabated spread of the COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus Pandemic in the country, the second lockdown was imposed from April 15th, till May 3rd!

We hear that states including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Kerala, among others, are in favour of extending the nation-wide lockdown post May 3rd! The Chief Ministers of only 9 states are said to have participated in the video conference with the PM, while most of the others had sent in written submissions of their requests! There is a general view that the lockdown would be strictly enforced in the hotspots, especially the Red Zones across the country, while it might be gradually relaxed in the Green Zones and Orange Zones. The travel ban would remain in place across the country but vehicles transporting essential goods would be allowed inter-state and inter-district travel! Ban on religious and social gatherings as well as educational institutions remaining closed would continue to be in effect. Kerala is said to be wanting a lockdown extension in Kottayam and Idukki till May 16, while Telangana has already announced an extension of the lockdown till May 7 and West Bengal has announced an extension till May 21!

Stay tuned for official updates...