India has started allowing fully vaccinated foreign tourists to the country from today. From now on, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can enter India in regular commercial flights if they test negative for Covid within 72 hours of the flight. Inside the country, they should continue in compliance with Covid-19 protocols.
Meanwhile people from certain countries have to go for a post-arrival Covid test upon arrival at the airport. But this test is not needed for counties like UK, US and many European countries who have made mutual agreements with India based on vaccines.
India had cancelled all commercial flights amid the rise of pandemic back in March 2020. Though special and chartered flights were allowed, tourists had strict restrictions. The new move to ease tourist restrictions is following the high rate of vaccine uptake in the country and the lowering number of Covid patients in the recent weeks.
According to the government, India has given two dose vaccines to 26.8% of the population. India has the second largest population in the world with 1.38 billion people living in the country.