Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday furr relaxed lockdown restrictions and has w allowed functioning of cinema halls, aters, and multiplexes with upto 50% of ir seating capacity from October 15.

Business to business (B2B) exhibitions, swimming pools for training of sportspersons, entertainment parks, and similar places will also be permitted to open for which government has issued standard operating procedure (SOP).

Social/acemic/sports/entertainment/cultural/religious/political functions and or congregations have alrey been permitted with a ceiling of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones only. w State/UT Governments have been given flexibility to permit such garings beyond limit of 100 persons, outside Containment Zones, after October 15, which will be subject to following conditions:

• In closed s, a maximum of 50% of hall capacity will be allowed, with a ceiling of 200 persons. Wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, provision for rmal scanning and use of hand wash or sanitizer will be mandatory.
• In open s, keeping size of ground/ in view, and with strict observance of social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, provision for rmal scanning and hand wash or sanitizer.

lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in Containment Zones till October 31, MHA said.

Opening of educational institutions

For re-opening of schools and coaching institutions, State/ UT Governments have been given flexibility to take a decision after October 15 in a gred manner.  decision shall be taken in consultation with respective school/institution manment, based on ir assessment of situation, and subject to following conditions:

Online/distance learning shall continue to be preferred mode of teaching and shall be encourd. Where schools are conducting online classes, and some students prefer to attend online classes rar than physically attend school, y may be permitted to do so.

Students may attend schools/institutions only with written consent of parents. Attendance must t be enforced and must depend entirely on parental consent.

States /UTs will prepare ir own SOP regarding health and safety precautions for reopening of schools/ institutions based on SOP to be issued by Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, keeping local requirements in view.

Schools, which are allowed to open, will have to mandatorily follow SOP to be issued by Education Departments of States/ UTs.

Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education may take a decision on timing of opening of Colleges/ Higher Education Institutions, in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on assessment of situation. Online/ distance learning shall continue to be preferred mode of teaching and shall be encourd.

However, Higher Education Institutions only for research scholars (Ph.D) and post-gruate students in science and techlogy stream requiring laboratory/ experimental works will be permitted to open from October 15 as under:

• For Centrally Funded Higher Education Institutions, He of Institution will satisfy herself/ himself that re is a genuine requirement of research scholars (Ph.D) and post-gruate students in science and techlogy stream for laboratory/experimental works.
• For all or Higher Education Institutions e.g. State Universities, Private Universities etc., y may open only for research scholars (Ph.D) and postgruate students in science and techlogy stream requiring laboratory/experimental works as per decision to be taken by respective State/UT Governments.