Days after the government had allowed e-commerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart and others to operate under the current lockdown without stating any distinction between delivery of essential and non-essential goods, it has now revised the order.

“Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during lockdown,” the ministry of home affairs said in a statement.

The official Twitter account of the Ministry of Home Affairs has also confirmed this information. “#IndiaFightsCorona Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during #Lockdown2 to fight #COVID19,” said the spokesperson on the social media platform.

The announcementcomes after a number of questions were raised by the opposition and traders about the government’s decision.

Prior to the development, Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal others, which were so far delivering essential items only including grocery, healthcare and hygiene products, etc. were preparing to resume their operations on full-scale post April 20.

“CAIT demolished a sinister plan of e-commerce companies to trade in non-essential commodities. Accepting the objection of CAIT, the MHA excluded the permission granted earlier and now e-commerce can only trade in essential commodities,” said Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary-General Praveen Khandelwal.

There were several reports of delivery partners of e-commerce firms being roughed up by the police, but eventually the Home Ministry assured the companies that they would be able to operate and deliver essential goods.