As tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global trade routes, strain supply chains and drive crude oil prices higher, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on citizens to adopt more restrained consumption habits to help safeguard India’s economy and foreign exchange reserves.
Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore in Telangana, the Prime Minister said every citizen had a role to play in reducing the country’s economic vulnerability during the ongoing global crisis.
“Patriotism is not only about the willingness to sacrifice one's life on the border. In these times, it is about living responsibly and fulfilling our duties to the nation in our daily lives,” PM Modi said.
He said the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict was being felt across global energy and commodity markets, making it necessary for India to reduce avoidable imports and conserve resources.
PM Modi Calls For Lower Fuel Consumption
The Prime Minister urged citizens to cut petrol and diesel consumption by relying more on public transport systems such as metros and buses wherever possible. He also encouraged car-pooling, greater use of railways for freight transport and wider adoption of electric vehicles to lower fuel dependence.
Recalling measures adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Modi asked offices and businesses to once again promote work-from-home arrangements, online conferences and virtual meetings in the national interest.
“Today, the need of the hour is also to use petrol, gas, diesel and such things with great restraint. We have to use imported petro products only as per need. This will not only save foreign exchange but reduce the adverse impact of war,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that collective public participation would be essential as India navigates global disruptions, rising import costs and supply-chain uncertainty caused by geopolitical tensions.
Appeal To Avoid Non-Essential Gold Purchases
Highlighting pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves, PM Modi also urged people to avoid unnecessary overseas travel, destination weddings and discretionary foreign spending for at least a year.
“The growing culture of weddings abroad, travelling abroad, and vacationing abroad is becoming prevalent among the middle class. We must decide that during this time of crisis, we should postpone travelling abroad for at least a year,” he said.
He further appealed to citizens to refrain from non-essential gold purchases for one year, saying the move would help conserve foreign exchange reserves at a time of elevated global uncertainty.
The Prime Minister also advised households to reduce edible oil consumption, noting that it would benefit both the country’s economy and public health.
Emphasising self-reliance, he encouraged consumers to prioritise locally manufactured products, including everyday-use items such as footwear, bags and accessories.
For the agriculture sector, PM Modi called on farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50 per cent and adopt solar-powered irrigation pumps instead of diesel-operated systems.
He also urged people to support domestic tourism over international holidays.
Focus On Energy Security And Clean Energy
During the event, the Prime Minister underlined the growing importance of energy security and said the Centre was making “unprecedented investments” to strengthen India’s energy infrastructure and reduce dependence on imported fuels.
“What is the importance of energy security... every person in the world is feeling it today,” he said.
He highlighted initiatives such as expansion in solar power generation, ethanol blending in petrol, wider LPG access, piped gas infrastructure and CNG-based transport systems as part of India’s broader strategy to shield itself from global energy shocks.
Among the projects launched on Sunday were the four-laning of National Highway-167 on the Hyderabad-Panaji Economic Corridor, development works in the Zaheerabad Industrial Area, sections of the Kazipet-Vijayawada railway multi-tracking project and a Greenfield Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants terminal in Hyderabad.
PM Modi also inaugurated the PM Mitra textile park in Warangal, billed as the country’s first fully operational PM Mitra park.
Strait Of Hormuz Crisis Adds To Oil Market Concerns
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
The passage has remained blocked for over two months following escalating hostilities involving Iran and US-Israel forces, severely disrupting global oil supplies and pushing energy prices higher.
Iran has announced that ships passing through the Strait would be required to pay a toll tax, while the United States has warned that vessels complying with Tehran’s demand could face interception.
According to the UN’s International Maritime Organisation, nearly 1,500 ships and their crews remain stranded in the Gulf due to the blockade.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom and France, are considering forming a multinational coalition to secure maritime movement through the Strait.
However, Iran on Sunday warned both countries that deployment of warships to the region would invite “a decisive and immediate response”, indicating that the geopolitical crisis remains far from resolved. |
