New Delhi, May 17 (IANS): The NDMA extended the current lockdown by another couple of weeks till May 31 on Sunday following which the Union Home Ministry came out with a detailed list of prohibited and exempted activities during lockdown 4.0.

While contrary to expectations, Metro services or commercial flight operations will continue to remain suspended, the MHA on Sunday slightly broadened the exemption list by accommodating sporting activities. "Sports complexes and stadia will be permitted to open only for sports activities. However, spectators will not be allowed in these complexes," noted a statement from the MHA.

This will give a reprieve to all the sportspeople who have been dying to practice or engage in a competition, albeit without the encouraging spectators.

The government said it has also allowed inter-state movement of vehicles provided the states or union territories involved are okay with it. It has been left to the concerned states but the Centre has given its green signal for the same.

Meanwhile movement of individuals by trains like the special trains and Shramik trains, and further, evacuation of foreign nationals from India, return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad will continue to be allowed, said the Centre.

Marriages, funerals will continue to be allowed with a strict upper limit of guests, social distancing norms and age of attendees. For marriage and funerals, a maximum of 50 and 20 individuals are allowed to attend during lockdown 4.0.

While most of the shops as allowed to operate during lockdown 3.0 will continue to operate, local authorities are reminded to ensure the shopkeepers ensure "Do gaz ki doori" between seller and buyer.

However, inside the containment zones there's no change of rules and only supply of essential items will be allowed.

While these are exemptions for individuals, there have been some for state governments and UT administrations too that they have fought for in the last meeting with the Prime Minister.

"Under the new guidelines, states and Union Territories (UTs) will now categorize Red, Green and Orange zones taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry," said the MHA. It added that the zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation or municipality or for that matter even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions, which will be decided by states and UTs. This has been a longstanding demand which was vociferously put forward by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee among other CMs.

However, the states and UTs will be following the broad contours for demarcation of zones as decided by the Centre.

The lockdown 3.0 ends tonight at 12 am following which a relatively relaxed lockdown 4.0 kicks in.