Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a special economic package of 267 billion U.S. dollars to make the country self-reliant amid a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

Addressing the nation, Modi said this economic package would be "around 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP)."

He urged his countrymen to buy locally produced goods under the "Self-Reliant India Movement."

The prime minister also said that the country will enter into the fourth phase of lockdown to fight the COVID-19 pandemic with effect from May 18.

The ongoing third phase of lockdown is slated to end on May 17. The lockdown began on March 25.

"The fourth phase of lockdown will have new rules which will be announced soon," added Modi. Enditem