Social Assistance and Information in the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons from a Household Survey in India

India’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic included several measures, including a nationwide lockdown, an information campaign, and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)—a major social protection package. This paper explores the implementation of PMGKY based on a household survey conducted four to six weeks after its launch. The study also flags the importance of the increasing spread of smartphones across the population.