Is Business Travel Allowed in India?

By Alice Nichols

As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, India is no different. The COVID-19 crisis has brought challenges to businesses, with many industries coming to a halt due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. Many companies across India had to suspend business travel for their employees in order to ensure their safety.

However, over the past few weeks, there has been some talk of allowing business travel in India. This has raised questions among people on whether business travel can be allowed or not. To understand this better, let us look at the current guidelines issued by the government of India.

The government of India has allowed international air travel for certain categories of travelers since August 2020. The categories include medical professionals and scientists associated with research activities as well as business travelers associated with international trade activities.

Business travelers are allowed only if they have a valid work permit or visa and have been tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of departure. Moreover, these travelers must follow all necessary safety protocols before undertaking their journey.

Apart from international air travel, domestic air travel is also being gradually resumed across India since May 2020. However, there are certain restrictions imposed on domestic flights as well. For example, only 50% of seats can be occupied in every flight and passengers need to adhere to all necessary health protocols.

Given the current guidelines, it is clear that business travel is indeed allowed in India provided travelers adhere to all safety regulations pertaining to both international and domestic flights.

Conclusion:
It can be concluded that business travel is allowed in India provided that all safety regulations are followed by travelers while undertaking any flight journey within or outside the country.