2nd Lockdown Stimulus Package On Agenda At Cabinet Meet At PM's Residence

New Delhi :

A new stimulus package to tackle the coronavirus crisis and the impact of the extended nationwide lockdown is on the agenda at a cabinet meeting taking place at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence today.

If approved, this will be the second COVID-19 stimulus package since the country went into lockdown to check the spread of the highly contagious virus.

A package of Rs 1.7 lakh crore was approved earlier this month.

Last week, PM Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met to discuss a financial package, which is likely to cover relief for MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) and tourism.

The decision to increase Dearness Allowance for government employees and pensioners has already been kept on hold. The cabinet had earlier cleared a 4 per cent hike in DA from the existing 17 per cent. The decision will impact over 54 lakh government employees and 65 lakh pensioners.

The government said it would consider the hike when India was in a better financial position later next year.

The number of coronavirus cases across the country has climbed to nearly 20,000, including 640 deaths.

World

Coronavirus has spread to 185 countries. The total confirmed cases worldwide are 25,63,480 and 1,77,420 have died; 17,04,478 are active cases and 6,81,582 have recovered as on April 22, 2020 at 7:56 am.

India

In India, there are 19,984 confirmed cases including 640 deaths. The number of active cases is 15,474 and 3,870 have recovered as on April 22, 2020 at 8:00 am.