India's lockdown extended till May 3, announces PM Modi

The pandemic, which has brought the world to its knees, has taken 358 lives in India and infected close to 10,500.

It has also had catastrophic effects on the economy, which was already growing at its slowest pace for the last six years.

There were some expectations that in the second bout of restrictions, some curbs will be lifted from industries.

At the beginning of his speech, PM Modi saluted countrymen for showing discipline.

"I know most of you faced difficulties, some didn't have food, some are staying away from homes, but all your sacrifices are helping India," he said.

Remembering BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary today, PM Modi said, "This is the "we, the people of India" that the Constitution speaks about."

In his much-awaited speech, PM Modi noted that India performed better than other countries and took steps without waiting for the outbreak to reach superlative levels.

"Before a single case of #COVID2019 in India, we already started taking decisive steps learning from the experience of other nations...We were proactive in screening incoming foreigners & quarantining those with symptoms," he added.

This was PM's fourth address to the nation on the health crisis. On March 19, he said he would ask for a few weeks from the countrymen while noting that they have never turned down his request.

That day, he asked Indians to observe Janata curfew on March 22.

Thereafter, on March 24, he announced the 21-day lockdown.

When he announced the world's biggest lockdown three weeks ago, PM Modi stressed on Jaan hai toh jahaan hai (the world exists if life exists).

But in his interaction with chief ministers last week, he said Jahan was as important as Jaan, hinting that the economy also needs to restart.

The lockdown has left millions jobless and hit the migrant workers the hardest.