India: Several northern regions continue to relax COVID-19 restrictions as of March 25 /update 57

Event

Authorities in states and union territories in northern India continue to ease COVID-19 controls as of March 25 amid reduced disease activity. Officials in some states, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have lifted all or most curbs, though local governments may enforce enhanced measures like stay-home orders in areas with COVID-19 clusters.

Revised nationwide restrictions on international travel remain in effect; entrants must carry negative results of a pre-departure COVID-19 test or vaccination certificate from a recognized origin, but no longer need to quarantine or undergo additional COVID-19 testing if asymptomatic. However, Rajasthan State continues to mandate on-arrival testing for international entrants. Most states require domestic travelers to download the Arogya Setu mobile application and either provide a negative result from a recognized COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arrival or proof of completing vaccination at least 15 days before entry; additional rules are in place for high-risk locations with increased disease activity.

As of March 25, various measures are in effect in the following states:

• Chandigarh: Local officials have lifted all gathering caps. Businesses and most venues may function at full capacity; vaccination certificates are compulsory to avail of dine-in services.

• Chhattisgarh: Authorities will lift all COVID-19 measures from April 1. However, officials will still require people to wear facemasks and observe social distancing when in public.

• Delhi: Officials allow offices to function at full capacity. Dine-in and recreational venues can open at 50 percent capacity. Up to 200 people may participate in permitted events like weddings. Authorities may conduct COVID-19 tests for randomly chosen entrants from domestic locations with increased COVID-19 activity.

• Haryana: Social distancing and facemasks remain compulsory in public, including on public transport. Asymptomatic domestic travelers entering the state do not require testing or quarantine, but officials may require entrants from high-risk domestic locations to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

• Himachal Pradesh: Gatherings are capped at 50 percent of the venue capacity. Some facilities, including cinemas, swimming pools, and gyms, have reopened. All entrants to the state must either be fully vaccinated or provide a negative PCR test obtained within 72 hours before arrival.

• Jammu and Kashmir: Recreational facilities, including cinemas, theaters, restaurants, and gyms, can open at 25-percent capacity. Gatherings may occur with up to 50 percent of the venue capacity. All symptomatic arrivals - including those entering via road - and those without negative results of a pre-departure test or a vaccination certificate must undergo on-arrival testing and quarantine at their residence for 14 days or until they receive a negative result.

• Ladakh: Schools have reopened in parts of the territory, including Kargil and Leh; protocols include ensuring social distancing and providing facemasks in the facilities. Entrants by air and land must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 96 hours before arrival. Passengers without the pre-trip test results or vaccination certificate must quarantine at designated sites for seven days. Arrivals must undergo a rapid antigen test regardless of their pre-trip test result.

• Madhya Pradesh: Gatherings, business operations, and all activities may occur at full capacity with social distancing measures. Entrants from Maharashtra State to some regions like Gwalior must take an on-arrival RT-PCR test if not holding pre-departure test results or vaccination certificates; symptomatic arrivals will undergo testing and quarantine until results arrive. All entrants must submit an online self-declaration form before travel.

• Punjab: The local government has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions. Officials continue to encourage people to observe social distancing and other measures.

• Rajasthan: Only fully vaccinated people can enter most public and large commercial venues; workers at public offices, public and private hire transport sectors, and retail venues must also be inoculated. All international entrants must undergo on-arrival RT-PCR testing, and quarantine at home until negative results are returned. The rule will also apply to domestic entrants without results of a pre-departure test or proof of completing vaccination.

• Uttarakhand: Officials have allowed swimming pools and water parks to reopen at full capacity. Most facilities, including cinemas, gyms, meeting halls, salons, and shopping malls may continue to function at full capacity. Quarantine is not required for asymptomatic domestic travelers entering with vaccination certificates or negative results of a pre-departure COVID-19 test.

• Uttar Pradesh: The government has removed caps for attendance at weddings and other events. Swimming pools and water parks have reopened. Public venues, businesses, and workplaces may operate at full capacity, except in containment zones with active COVID-19 clusters. All domestic arrivals must undergo on-arrival testing at the Agra Airport (AGR), regardless of pre-departure testing or vaccination status. Officials at other areas may also require domestic travelers from high-risk locations such as Kerala and Maharashtra to undergo additional on-arrival testing. Symptomatic arrivals from high-risk locations must quarantine at home for up to 14 days.

Advice

Follow all official instructions; minimize outdoor activity to the extent possible. Abide by state and national health and safety measures. Reconfirm business appointments, deliveries, work, and travel arrangements. Do not check out of accommodation without confirming onward travel. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.

Resources

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Help Page
Chandigarh Union Territory Portal
Chhattisgarh State COVID-19 Portal
Haryana State COVID-19 Portal
Ladakh Union Territory COVID-19 Portal
Madhya Pradesh State COVID-19 Portal
Madhya Pradesh State Self-Declaration Form
Punjab State Government Portal
Rajasthan State COVID-19 Portal
Uttarakhand State COVID-19 Portal
Uttar Pradesh State Government Portal
World Health Organization (WHO)