The world has faced many challenges with COVID-19, and as we step into 2025, many of you, our valued readers in India, may be wondering if lockdowns are coming back because of rising COVID-19 cases.
This article is here to connect with you, providing clear and honest information about the current situation, what’s happening with the virus, and whether lockdowns are likely in India.
As of June 2025, India has seen a small rise in COVID-19 cases, with 3,395 active cases and 4 deaths reported recently, mainly in states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Most cases are mild, and the government says the situation is under control, with no plans for a nationwide lockdown. However, local restrictions or curfews might happen in some areas if cases keep increasing.
India is seeing a slight increase in COVID-19 cases, but they are mostly mild, and while no national lockdown is planned, local measures may be used in high-case areas to keep everyone safe.
What’s Happening with COVID-19 in India Today
To begin with, let’s look at the current picture of COVID-19 in India as of June 2025. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has 3,395 active COVID-19 cases, with 4 deaths reported recently in states like Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Importantly, these deaths were among people who already had serious health problems, like cancer or kidney issues, which made them more vulnerable to the virus. Additionally, cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad have reported a noticeable increase in cases.
Mumbai alone recorded 95 cases in May 2025, a big jump compared to just 106 cases in Maharashtra from January to May. However, health officials have confirmed that most of these cases are mild, and very few people need hospital care. Furthermore, the government is closely watching the situation through expert groups like the National Centre for Disease Control and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
These groups are working together to ensure hospitals are ready and testing is increased for anyone showing symptoms like fever or cough. Meanwhile, India’s vaccination program, which started in January 2021 with vaccines like Covaxin and Covishield, has been a big success, with over 720 million people fully vaccinated by 2022. Consequently, this strong vaccination coverage is helping keep severe cases low, even with the recent rise in infections.
Why Are COVID-19 Cases Rising Again in 2025
Next, let’s understand why COVID-19 cases are going up in some places.
To explain, new variants of the virus, like the Omicron subvariants JN.1, LF.7, and NB.1.8.1, are spreading faster than older versions. For instance, these variants are driving a surge in places like Singapore and Hong Kong, where cases jumped by 28% and test positivity rates doubled in May 2025. Similarly, in India, these variants are causing small spikes, especially in crowded cities.
Moreover, health experts say that immunity from earlier vaccines or infections might be weakening over time, making some people more likely to catch the virus again. Also, many people have stopped following safety habits like wearing masks or avoiding crowded places, which helps the virus spread.
Besides, the World Health Organization has noted that global COVID-19 activity has increased since February 2025, with test positivity rates reaching 11% in some regions. However, in India, the situation is less severe, with only 257 active cases reported on May 19, 2025, and most of these are manageable at home. Therefore, while the virus is still active, the impact in India remains much smaller compared to earlier waves in 2020 and 2021.
Will There Be a Lockdown 2025
Now, let’s address the big question on everyone’s mind: will India see another lockdown in 2025? To clarify, the Indian government has not announced any plans for a nationwide lockdown as of June 2025. Instead, officials are focusing on targeted measures to control the virus. For example, during a recent meeting led by the Director General of Health Services, experts decided that the current situation is under control, with no need for strict measures like a full lockdown.
However, if cases keep rising in certain areas, some state governments might bring in local restrictions. Specifically, these could include night curfews, closing schools or malls for a short time, or limiting public gatherings in high-case districts. In fact, states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are already seeing higher numbers, so local curfews are being discussed.
On the other hand, a full lockdown across the country is unlikely because the economy is still recovering from past lockdowns, and officials want to avoid harming jobs and businesses. Furthermore, India’s experience with lockdowns in 2020, which slowed the virus but caused hardships for many, has led the government to prioritize smaller, localized actions over a national shutdown.
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How India Handled Lockdowns in the Past
To give context, let’s look back at how India managed lockdowns during earlier waves of COVID-19. Initially, on March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown when India had about 500 cases. This lockdown limited movement for the entire 1.38 billion population, closing all non-essential businesses except hospitals, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
As a result, it slowed the spread of the virus, with cases doubling every six days by early April 2020. Later, the lockdown was extended in phases until May 31, 2020, with areas divided into Red, Orange, and Green zones based on case numbers. Subsequently, India began a phased reopening from June 2020, called “Unlock,” allowing businesses like farming and cargo transport to restart.
However, during the second wave in March 2021, which was much worse due to shortages of oxygen and hospital beds, some states like Maharashtra and Delhi imposed their own lockdowns or curfews. In contrast, no nationwide lockdown was used in 2021 because the central government wanted to balance health and economic needs. Therefore, this history shows that India prefers targeted restrictions over blanket lockdowns when possible.
What’s Being Done to Keep People Safe
Finally, let’s talk about what’s happening now to protect everyone in India. To start, the government is increasing testing, especially for people with flu-like symptoms, to catch cases early. Additionally, hospitals in cities like Mumbai are reopening COVID wards to handle any rise in patients, though most cases don’t need hospital care.
Moreover, India’s vaccination program continues, with booster shots available for those at higher risk, like older people or those with health conditions. Also, health experts are urging people to follow basic safety steps, such as wearing masks in crowded places and washing hands often.
Furthermore, the government is keeping a close eye on global trends, especially in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, where new variants are causing more cases. However, Indian officials have said there’s no need to worry about these international surges, as India’s situation is different due to high vaccination rates and better preparedness.
Lastly, groups like the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme are guiding India’s response to ensure the virus stays under control.