Heena Sharma Blog

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced the extension of nationwide lockdown till May 3 to contain the spread of coronavirus ( Covid-19 ). In his address to the nation, PM Modi said that there would be some relaxations to allow activities to resume in select areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs came out with some guidelines about what activities have been allowed and what will remain restricted. The ministry added that State and union territory governments shall not dilute lockdown guidelines in any manner, but they may impose stricter measures as per local requirements. The exemptions given will not be applicable to the hotspots. Now, wearing a mask will be mandatory across the nation. Here is the list of activties that are allowed from April 20 Transportation of all goods will be allowed without the distinction of essential and non-essential. Services provided by self-employed electricians, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics, carpenters. Read More

India, one of the world's biggest agricultural producers, experienced its heaviest monsoon rains in 25 years this year. While rain would normally cheer the agricultural heartland, the monsoon was erratic and has left many crops damaged. WHY IS THE MONSOON IMPORTANT? India is the world's biggest producer of sugar, cotton and pulses and the second-biggest producer of wheat and rice. The success of these crops is largely determined by the June-September monsoon, which delivers about 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall. The monsoon is also critical for the wider economy. Farming makes up about 15 per cent of the $2.5 trillion economy and employs more than half of the country's 130 crore people. While crops in the ground have been damaged by the monsoon, the rains have replenished reservoirs and ground water reserves, which augurs well for India's rural economy in 2020. WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THIS MONSOON? A prolonged dry spell resulted in sign