As expected, Narendra Modi has on Tuesday morning extended the lockdown till May 3. After paying a tribute to BR Ambedkar (whose Jayanti it is today), the Prime Minister said that India has battled COVID-19 to a good extent. He then listed the early steps taken by the government ahead of other countries in fighting the virus.

Much later in his national address, Modi declared that the ongoing lockdown will end only on May 3. Saying that lives are the most important priority, he added that most of the States had favoured an extension of the lockdown. Since the national lockdown came into force on March 24, this is a 40-day lockdown - something unheard of anywhere in the world.

Modi said that some relaxations will definitely be allowed in districts where there are no hotspots from April 20. "We will monitor the performance of districts till April 20. In areas where the situation keeps improving, a few relaxations will be allowed," Modi said. However, if the situation should deteriorate, the relaxations will be withdrawn.

This means that the government will conduct a check on the hotspots for the next week.

A detailed list of guidelines will be issued on Wednesday regarding the lockdown till May 3.