COVID-19 lockdown will deepen India’s rifts

Subject

Impact of India's COVID-19 lockdown.

Significance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended India’s COVID-19 lockdown to May 3. Police have frequently resorted to heavy-handed tactics to enforce restrictions on movement, and the lockdown has left millions unable to earn a daily wage.

Impacts

• Modi will aim to assert his credentials as a global leader by encouraging greater international cooperation in handling the pandemic.
• Even after curbs on movement are lifted, the government will likely cite public health concerns to restrict the right to protest.
• There will be growing calls for a universal basic income.