The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on August 29 announced the Unlock 4.0 guidelines. Under the guidelines, lockdown will be extended in the country till September 30. However, the lockdown will only be implemented strictly in the containment zones, the ministry stated.
The Delhi Metro rail services will be allowed to operate with effect from September 7 in a graded manner, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA)/ Ministry of Railways (MOR), in consultation with the MHA.
Social/ academic/ sports/ entertainment/ cultural/ religious/ political functions and other congregations will be permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, with effect from September 21.
There shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods. No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements.
Open air theatres will be permitted to open with effect from September 21.
After extensive consultation with states and UTs, it has been decided that
schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will continue to
remain closed for students and regular class activity up to September 30.
Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be
encouraged. However, following will be permitted, in areas outside the
Containment Zones only, with effect from September 21, for which, SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
States/ UTs may permit up to 50 percent of teaching and non-teaching staff to be called to the schools at a time for online teaching/ tele- counselling
and related work.
Students of classes 9 to 12 may be permitted to visit their schools, in
areas outside the Containment Zones only, on voluntary basis, for taking
guidance from their teachers. This will be subject to written consent of
their parents/ guardians.
Skill or Entrepreneurship training will be permitted in National Skill
Training Institutes, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Short term
training centres registered with National Skill Development Corporation
or State Skill Development Missions or other Ministries of Government
of India or State Governments.
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
(NIESBUD), Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and their training
providers will also be permitted.
Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D.) and post-
graduate students of technical and professional programmes requiring
laboratory/ experimental works. These will be permitted by the Department
of Higher Education (DHE) in consultation with MHA, based on the
assessment of the situation, and keeping in view incidence of COVID-19 in
the states/ UTs.
However, cinema halls, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres (excluding open air theatre) and similar places will remain shut.
International air travel of passengers, except as permitted by the MHA, will also remain suspended.
State/ UT governments will not allowed to impose any local lockdown, outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government.
