Covid shock: India got its response right

The economic recovery thus far has vindicated the government's approach to minimising the impact of the pandemic

Did the government get its handling of the pandemic right? That is the question many will have on their minds as the Indian economy recovers from what was touted as the “worst crisis of the century”.

There are two parts to the question. One, was the government right to enforce a nation-wide lockdown last March? Two, having imposed the lockdown, did it take the right steps to minimise the damage to the economy?

The definitive answer to the first part may not be known for a long time. Almost everything about the virus is up for debate at the moment. Is it