Jitan Ram Manjhi cuts convoy by 50% in response to Modi's fuel conservation call
Synopsis
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has halved his official convoy in direct response to PM Modi's fuel conservation appeal — and he is not alone. Bihar's Chief Minister walked to work, a cabinet minister took an e-rickshaw, and another covered a kilometre on foot. The coordinated display signals that Modi's energy appeal is being treated as a political directive, not just an advisory.
Key Takeaways
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi reduced his official convoy by 50 per cent on 16 May in response to PM Narendra Modi 's fuel conservation appeal.
Manjhi has directed that convoy vehicles be used strictly on a minimum-requirement basis going forward.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary walked from his residence to the Secretariat in Patna on Friday and has also cut his own convoy size.
Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash walked nearly one kilometre to the Secretariat; Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari commuted by electric e-rickshaw.
The measures are part of a wider fuel-saving drive across Bihar and other states aligned with the Prime Minister's appeal.
Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday, 16 May reduced the number of vehicles in his official convoy by 50 per cent, acting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for petroleum and energy conservation. The move marks one of the most visible gestures yet by a Union minister in response to the Centre's push for responsible resource usage amid global energy pressures.
What Manjhi Has Directed
According to reports, Manjhi has issued standing instructions that convoy vehicles will henceforth be deployed strictly on a minimum-requirement basis. He has also asked departmental colleagues to maximise the use of public transportation wherever operationally feasible. The minister framed the directive not as a symbolic gesture but as a structural shift in how his office approaches resource consumption.
Manjhi's Statement on the Global Context
Speaking on the rationale behind the decision, Manjhi said the current situation is part of a global crisis and that Prime Minister Modi's appeal is aimed at preventing any potential shortage of petroleum and energy resources in India. He added that it is the collective duty of both citizens and elected representatives to heed the appeal and contribute toward shielding the nation from a future energy crunch.
Bihar Leaders Join the Conservation Drive
The initiative has gathered momentum across Bihar, with several state leaders adopting fuel-saving measures in parallel. On Friday, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary walked from the Chief Minister's residence to the Secretariat in Patna, accompanied by officials and security personnel. Choudhary has also reduced his own convoy size for official movements within Patna and nearby areas.
Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash joined the initiative by walking nearly one kilometre from his official residence to the Secretariat. Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari went a step further, commuting to his office in an electric e-rickshaw — an explicitly eco-friendly choice that drew attention on social media.
Broader Significance
The wave of visible conservation steps by ministers and officials reflects a coordinated political response to Modi's appeal, which has framed fuel conservation as a national security imperative rather than a routine administrative advisory. Whether these measures translate into sustained policy changes or remain largely symbolic will determine their long-term impact. All eyes are now on whether other state governments and Union ministers follow suit with similarly concrete directives.
Point of View
High-visibility opportunity to demonstrate loyalty and public-spiritedness simultaneously. What is missing from this narrative is any hard data — how much fuel will actually be saved, over what period, and whether these directives will be institutionalised or quietly abandoned once the news cycle moves on. Symbolic gestures by ministers are easy to photograph; verifiable fuel budgets are harder to audit. The real test is whether government fleet management policies are formally revised, not just temporarily adjusted for the cameras.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jitan Ram Manjhi reduce his convoy size?
Jitan Ram Manjhi cut his official convoy by 50 per cent on 16 May in direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for petroleum and energy conservation. He framed the move as a necessary step to guard India against potential fuel shortages amid a global energy crisis.
What other measures has Manjhi announced?
Beyond halving his convoy, Manjhi has instructed departmental colleagues to maximise the use of public transportation wherever possible. He has also directed that convoy vehicles be deployed strictly based on minimum operational requirements going forward.
Which Bihar leaders have joined the fuel conservation initiative?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary walked from his official residence to the Secretariat in Patna on Friday and has reduced his convoy size. Panchayati Raj Minister Deepak Prakash walked nearly one kilometre to the Secretariat, and Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari travelled to his office by electric e-rickshaw.
What is the context behind PM Modi's fuel conservation appeal?
PM Modi's appeal calls on citizens and public representatives to conserve petroleum and energy resources, citing global energy pressures that could potentially lead to shortages in India. The appeal has prompted a visible wave of fuel-saving gestures by ministers and officials across several states.
Is this a nationwide initiative or limited to Bihar?
While Bihar has seen the most visible cluster of responses — with multiple ministers taking public or low-emission transport — the appeal is national in scope. Reports indicate that leaders and officials in other parts of the country have also begun adopting fuel-saving measures in line with the Prime Minister's call.
