Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to reduce consumption of petroleum products and adopt strict austerity measures during a national address [1, 2].
The appeal comes as surging oil prices and conflict in the Middle East place significant pressure on India's economy and national currency [1, 3].
Modi called for a shift in daily habits to mitigate the energy crisis. He urged the population to adopt work-from-home arrangements and cut fuel use to save energy [2, 4]. The prime minister also asked citizens to avoid non-essential foreign travel, and limit the purchase of gold [2, 3].
In his address, Modi highlighted the risks posed by the conflict in the Middle East, specifically noting that war in Iran poses severe risks to India [5]. To combat these economic threats, the prime minister provided a list of 14 specific do's and don'ts for the public to follow [6].
These measures include avoiding foreign weddings to curb currency outflow, and reducing the overall reliance on imported petroleum [4]. The call for austerity reflects the government's attempt to stabilize the economy amid volatile global energy markets [3].
Modi said the country must prioritize energy-saving measures to protect the national interest during this period of instability [1].
“PM Modi urged Indians to reduce consumption of petroleum products and adopt strict austerity measures.”
This appeal signals a rare move toward state-led social austerity in India, suggesting that the economic impact of the Middle East crisis is severe enough to warrant government intervention in private consumer behavior. By targeting gold imports and foreign travel, the administration is attempting to protect foreign exchange reserves while reducing the trade deficit caused by expensive oil imports.
