Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian citizens to revive work-from-home practices and limit fuel consumption during a public rally in Secunderabad on Sunday.
The appeal comes as a response to an oil shock caused by conflict in West Asia. The Prime Minister aims to protect India's foreign-exchange reserves and mitigate the economic impact of rising global energy prices.
Modi said that citizens should use petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with restraint. To further reduce the drain on national reserves, he asked the public to postpone foreign travel for one year [1].
Addressing the crowd in Telangana, the Prime Minister also spoke about the cultural practice of buying gold for weddings. He said citizens should avoid purchasing gold for weddings for one year [2] to help stabilize the economy amid the deepening oil crisis.
The push for a return to remote work is intended to reduce the daily reliance on fossil fuels for commuting. By reviving work-from-home arrangements, the government hopes to lower the overall demand for petrol and diesel across the country.
These measures are framed as a collective effort to navigate the volatility of the energy market. The Prime Minister said there is a need for national restraint to ensure economic stability while the conflict in West Asia continues to affect global supply chains.
“Postpone foreign travel for one year”
This appeal signals a high level of concern regarding India's current account deficit and foreign-exchange reserves. By targeting gold imports and fuel consumption—two of the largest drains on India's reserves—the government is attempting to use social mobilization to buffer the economy against external shocks from the Middle East conflict.
