Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday indicated that the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of novel coronavirus will be extended but will have completely different contours and rules.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi said that Lockdown 4.0 will be completely different from those seen yet in its guidelines and rules. 

"On the basis of recommendations received from states, new rules will be framed, and information about the same will be conveyed before May 18," Modi said. 

The ongoing lockdown will expire on May 17. 

The nationwide lockdown was first imposed on March 25 and was further extended on its 21-day completion on April 14. The second phase of the lockdown was till May 3 which was extended for another two weeks with relaxed guidelines which allowed economic activities in areas without COVID-19 hotspots. 

At the end of his 35-minute address, Modi noted that several experts and scientists have said that the virus is going to be part of our lives for a long time. 

"But, it is also important to ensure that our life does not revolve only around it (COVID-19). He exhorted people to work towards their targets while taking precautions like wearing masks and maintaining ‘do gaz doori’ (two yards of distance)," he said. 

In a video conference with chief ministers on Monday, Modi had said he is of the "firm view that the measures needed in the first phase of lockdown were not needed during the second phase and similarly, measures needed in the third phase are not needed in the fourth."

Modi had noted the challenges are two-fold -- the reduction of the transmission rate of the novel coronavirus and gradual increase in public activities while adhering to all guidelines.