Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to citizens to conserve fuel, revive work-from-home practices, avoid non-essential gold purchases, and cut overseas travel to protect India's foreign exchange reserves amid the global economic disruption triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict. Addressing a public meeting organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad in Hyderabad, Modi called for collective citizen participation to help India navigate supply chain challenges and rising prices caused by international conflicts.

Key Appeals to Citizens

On the fuel front, Modi urged citizens to use Metro rail and public transport wherever available, opt for car-pooling when private vehicles are unavoidable, and increase adoption of electric vehicles. He also called for a greater shift toward railway transport for goods movement. "Since petrol and diesel have become extremely expensive across the world, it is our responsibility to save fuel and thereby save the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel," he said.

The Prime Minister also called for the revival of Covid-era efficiency measures, including work-from-home arrangements, online conferences, and virtual meetings. "During the Corona period, we adopted work from home, online meetings, video conferences, and developed many such systems. Today, the need of the hour is that we restart those practices, as it would be in the national interest," he said.

Foreign Exchange Conservation Measures

Modi appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacations, and foreign weddings, urging them instead to opt for domestic tourism and celebrations within India. He also advised people to avoid non-essential gold purchases for one year to reduce pressure on foreign exchange outflows — a significant ask given India's position as one of the world's largest gold importers.

Citizens were also encouraged to prioritise Made-in-India and locally manufactured products, including daily-use items such as shoes, bags, and accessories. Modi further urged families to reduce edible oil consumption, noting it would benefit both national economic health and personal wellbeing.

Appeal to Farmers

The Prime Minister urged farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50 per cent, transition toward natural farming practices, and protect soil health to reduce import dependence. He also encouraged wider adoption of solar-powered irrigation pumps in place of diesel pumps.

Highlighting the government's subsidy efforts, Modi pointed out that while one bag of fertiliser is being sold globally for around ₹3,000, the same bag is being provided to India's farmers for less than ₹300. "The government has been making continuous efforts to save people from the impact by shouldering the burden," he said.

The Broader Context

Modi acknowledged that the world has been grappling with a major supply chain crisis since the Covid-19 pandemic, compounded further by the Ukraine war. He noted that India faces particular vulnerability given its heavy dependence on energy imports. "We don't have big oil wells. We have to import petrol, diesel and gas. The prices of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers have skyrocketed," he said.

The Prime Minister framed the collective effort as a form of patriotism, emphasising that fulfilling one's duties responsibly during difficult times is as important as any other expression of national service. "When the supply chain continues to be in crisis, no matter what measures we take, the difficulties only increase. Therefore, now we must fight unitedly, keeping the country and Mother India first," he added.

With global commodity prices remaining elevated and India's import bill under pressure, the government's focus on citizen-level behavioural change signals a broader strategy to complement policy-level interventions in the months ahead.