The world’s largest ever lockdown will continue into next month.
India’s 1,2 billion population will have to stay home until May 3.
The initial three-week shutdown hasn’t stopped the spread of coronavirus with more than 10,000 confirmed cases reported.
"Until May 3 every Indian will have to stay in lockdown. I request all Indians that we stop the coronavirus from spreading to other areas," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address.
However Modi said that from April 20, a gradual easing of the lockdown may be permitted in areas where there is evidence the spread has been contained.
"In areas where hotspots do not manifest and in those which have contained them, we can consider a conditional withdrawal of lockdown," he added.
Some state governments had called for an extension to the lockdown Modi said.
Some states like Odisha had already unilaterally extended it.
"During the next week, the fight against coronavirus will become strict wherein until April 20, every town, every police station, every district, every state will be evaluated in terms of how the lockdown is being implemented and how that region has protected itself from coronavirus," Modi said.
"Those who pass this test, and who are not in these hotspots with a low likelihood of turning into a hotspot may be allowed certain essential activities."
