Fact Check: No, PM Modi has not announced a nationwide lockdown

The claim is false.

NewsMeter noticed that the viral message did not look authentic because though it said that shops, malls, and markets would be shut down nationwide, there was no proper information about whether essential services would be available.

A keyword search led us to a report by India TV published on 11 January 2022. It said Mr. Modi was going to have a meeting with the Chief Ministers on Thursday (13 January) to discuss the lockdown. The report read, "The skyrocketing Covid cases in the country have raised fears of the nationwide lockdown being re-imposed. While rising Covid numbers are a matter of concern, imposing a lockdown will add to the woes that the country's economy is already facing."

We then searched for reports related to the meeting that took place on Thursday and found a report by News 18 from 13 January. It said the PM urged citizens not to panic and he stressed on alertness in the fight against COVID-19. Nowhere did the report mention anything about the nationwide lockdown.

ANI and Jagran, on 13 January, had also reported the same. "During the meeting, PM Modi said that the alertness of people and administration must not fall short in festive season adding that the country needs to be ready for any future variants of COVID 19," Jagran reported.

We also found a tweet by PIB Fact Check from 13 January that said the claim that PM Modi has announced a nationwide lockdown till 25 January is false.

It is therefore evident that the claim made through the viral message is false. PM Modi has not announced a nationwide lockdown till 25 January 2022.