The variant, which officially is named B.1.617, is being linked to travel, the ministry states. From 687 samples taken in the week of 12-18 April, the British variant (B.1.1.7) represented 85.8% of cases, the South African variant (B.1.351) only 8.8%.
Viruses change all the time and the one that causes Covid-19 has already undergone several thousand mutations -- some more concerning than others.
India first reported the B.1.617 genome to the global database (GISAID) in October. The country is currently battling a record-breaking rise in Covid-19 infections that has overwhelmed hospitals and led to severe bed and oxygen shortages, but it is unclear whether the new variant is the main cause of the outbreak. Here's what we know about it.
B.1.617 has been categorised by the World Health Organisation as a "variant of interest". Other variants detected in Brazil, South Africa and the UK have been categorised as "of concern", because they are more transmissible, virulent or might reduce antibody efficacy.
B.1.617 has several mutations, including two notable ones (E484Q and L452R), leading to it sometimes being called the "double mutant".
The first notable mutation is similar to another (E484K or sometimes nicknamed "Eek") observed in the South African, Brazilian, and more recently, the UK variants.
The "Eek" has been dubbed an "escape mutation" as it helps the virus get past the body's immune system.
The other notable mutation was found by a Californian study to be an efficient spreader.
Scientists say more evidence is needed to determine if these mutations make the B.1.617 variant more dangerous.
