People stand in queue to get inoculated against COVID—19 at a vaccination center in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, July 30, 2021. (Photo: AP)

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Commercial international flights to and from India shall remain suspended until Aug. 31, according to a circular issued by the country's civil aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday.

The restriction shall not be applicable for international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA.

The order issued by DGCA said the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the Travel and Visa restrictions related to COVID-19 regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to and from India till Aug. 31.

"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis," it said.

Commercial flights were suspended when the country imposed a complete nationwide lockdown late in March last year to contain the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Domestic flights resumed operations in India on May 25 last year after nearly two months of suspension, while international flights continue to remain suspended.

However, Indian authorities have been operating special international flights since May last year and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with select countries since July last year.