As many other countries, India leverages on a pre-existing workfare programme as a COVID-19 response. We combine monthly administrative data with migration and poverty statistics and provide four insights on the recent expansion of the programme.

India has taken early action to limit the spread of COVID-19, ordering a 21-day nationwide lockdown for its population of 1.3 billion people starting March 25. Subsequently the lockdown was renewed three more times before May 31.

The return of migrant workers to their villages offers an opportunity to give agribusiness a leg-up

On June 27, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announced plans to move towards a system of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC).

"Migration can serve as an outlet for employment, higher earnings, and reduced income risk for households in developing countries.

In the second half of the last century, both India and China have undergone major transitions and have moved to more liberalized economies. This paper relates the observed patterns in regional inequality to major events during this period.