The Centre on Monday cancelled the mandatory rule of submitting the declaration form, Air Suvidha, for international arriving passengers, beginning the midnight of 22 November.
A self-declaration form, Air Suvidha, was introduced as a COVID-19 prevention measure for contact tracing. The contactless solution by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Health Family Welfare was facilitated by Delhi Airport for all international passengers coming to India.
Following the announcement, people flying into India from abroad will no longer be required to fill out the form and take an RT-PCR COVID-19 test. Passengers, including children of five years and above, had to get RT-PCR tests before boarding a flight back to India since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, it is preferable and no longer mandatory for international arrivals to be vaccinated. The relaxation comes after the government’s decision to make it optional — though, again preferable — for air travellers to remain masked on aircraft and at airports. Passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be at once isolated, and taken to a chosen medical facility as per health protocol.
The Civil Aviation Ministry in its note said that the decision has been taken in the light of sustained declining COVID-19 trajectory and significant advances being made in COVID-19 vaccination coverage globally and nationally.
