Indicating a phased lifting of the current nationwide lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked the Union ministers to prepare a "graded plan" to slowly open departments in non-hotspots of the COVID-19, and work on a war footing to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on country's economy.
India is currently under a 21-day lockdown from March 25, with only essential services exempted, to contain the fast-spreading virus, which has claimed more than 70,000 lives and afflicted over 12.8 lakh people across 183 countries.
Chairing a meeting of the council of ministers through video conferencing, Modi said,"a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren't existing should be made."