Indicating a phased opening of the ongoing lockdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Union ministers to prepare a "graded plan" to slowly open departments in areas that have not emerged as hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modi made this suggestion while chairing a meeting of the council of ministers via video-conferencing.

Talking about the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the prime minister said that the government must work on war footing to mitigate the impact, adding that the ministries should prepare a business continuity plan, according to an official statement.

"He noted that a graded plan to slowly open departments where hotspots aren't existing should be made," the statement said.