Did “complacency” cause India’s COVID explosion?

May 11, 2021

Did “Complacency” Cause India’s COVID Explosion? | GZERO World

In January 2021, after India got its vaccination program underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory over "controlling corona" at the World Economic Forum. But within weeks, those words would come back to haunt him. Ian Bremmer asks Delhi-based journalist Barkha Dutt what she thinks went wrong. "I think the complacency set in because, as a percentage of infections, the fatalities seemed to be not as high as the rest of the world… but it doesn't explain to me why we should've got lulled into not needing contingencies." Their discussion about India's COVID crisis is featured on an episode of GZERO World, airing on US public television.

Watch the episode: India's COVID calamity

From Your Site Articles

Hard Numbers: Judge orders temp shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz, Colombian violence spreading, Women’s Rugby World Cup begins, & More

Protesters line the street outside Alligator Alcatraz in Ochopee, Florida, holding signs during a vigil on Aug. 10, 2025.

USA TODAY Network

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.

Did “complacency” cause India’s COVID explosion?

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

What (or who) will replace USAID?

America’s retreat from global aid is leaving a massive funding gap that no other country is stepping in to fill, leaving the world’s poorest to pay the price, warns IRC president & CEO David Miliband on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.

Is American capitalism still capitalism?

In this episode of Ian Bremmer’s Quick Take, Ian explores the state of capitalism in the United States.

The collapse of the college premium

“Pain and agony and suffering,” wrote Sam Angel, about his job hunt. He recently graduated with a masters in Cold War military history from Columbia University in New York, having decided to go right into a masters program after finishing undergrad.

What We’re Watching: South Korea’s Lee to meet Trump, Israel offers withdrawal for Hezbollah disarmament, Maryland man now headed to Uganda

Hard Numbers: Ukraine blocked from using long-range US missiles, Israeli strike on hospital, Taliban gaining legitimacy, & More

GZEROMEDIA

The global refugee crisis is at breaking point

As global conflicts surge, the refugee crisis is spiraling out of control. How is the world responding? International Rescue Committee president & CEO David Miliband joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

Rethinking the refugee crisis and global aid system, with David Miliband

David Miliband, IRC president & CEO, joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis as the number of refugees and forcibly displaced people reaches record highs amid shrinking aid budgets and a pullback of US foreign aid.

The broken system behind the refugee crisis

A record 123 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, straining poorer countries and an unraveling aid system. Ian Bremmer breaks down the refugee crisis and the growing threat to global stability.

What We’re Watching: Powell signals rate cuts, Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption push, Gaza starvation confirmed

Hard Numbers: Judge orders temp shutdown of Alligator Alcatraz, Colombian violence spreading, Women’s Rugby World Cup begins, & More

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.

Did “complacency” cause India’s COVID explosion?

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

America’s retreat from global aid is leaving a massive funding gap that no other country is stepping in to fill, leaving the world’s poorest to pay the price, warns IRC president & CEO David Miliband on GZERO World with Ian Bremmer.

In this episode of Ian Bremmer’s Quick Take, Ian explores the state of capitalism in the United States.

“Pain and agony and suffering,” wrote Sam Angel, about his job hunt. He recently graduated with a masters in Cold War military history from Columbia University in New York, having decided to go right into a masters program after finishing undergrad.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

As global conflicts surge, the refugee crisis is spiraling out of control. How is the world responding? International Rescue Committee president & CEO David Miliband joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.

David Miliband, IRC president & CEO, joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast to discuss the worsening humanitarian crisis as the number of refugees and forcibly displaced people reaches record highs amid shrinking aid budgets and a pullback of US foreign aid.

A record 123 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, straining poorer countries and an unraveling aid system. Ian Bremmer breaks down the refugee crisis and the growing threat to global stability.

60: A federal judge gave the White House and the Florida state government 60 days to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz,” a controversial immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has become a symbol of US President Donald Trump’s severe immigration policies.