India entered an unprecedented recession with economy contracting in the three months through September due to lingering effects of lockdowns to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a report, the Ministry of Statistics said today that economic activity suffered after Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed strictest coronavirus lockdowns in March sapping demand for non-essential goods and services.

The report said despite the measures to stem the pandemic, the country is now second-highest Covid-19 infections with at 9.3 million cases after the United States.