Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advised citizens to adopt work-from-home arrangements and exercise restraint in fuel consumption to help India conserve foreign exchange amid escalating tensions and conflict in West Asia.
Speaking at a BJP event in Hyderabad on Sunday, Modi highlighted the surge in global fuel prices triggered by the ongoing Iran-United States war. He emphasised that the country must take every possible step to safeguard its foreign exchange reserves.
The Prime Minister urged Indians to use petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products judiciously. Among his suggestions were opting for work-from-home (WFH) wherever feasible for up to a year, postponing non-essential gold purchases, and deferring avoidable foreign travel. He also encouraged greater reliance on public transport such as metro rail services, carpooling, increased adoption of electric vehicles, and using railways for parcel transportation.
Modi drew parallels with pandemic-era practices, noting that Indians had successfully adapted to virtual meetings, video conferencing, and remote work during COVID-19. He called for reviving these habits during the current global crisis, stating that efforts should focus on using only what is necessary to minimise the impact of the war on the economy and protect foreign currency reserves.
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Additional measures proposed by the Prime Minister include reducing consumption of edible oil, cutting back on chemical fertilisers, promoting natural farming, and prioritising Swadeshi products to enhance self-reliance and conserve foreign exchange.
The appeal comes as West Asia remains volatile. Iran recently proposed transferring part of its enriched uranium stockpile to a third country as part of peace talks but ruled out dismantling its nuclear facilities. US President Donald Trump rejected the offer, contributing to a sharp rise in oil prices, which reportedly reached as high as $105 per barrel.
The Congress party criticised Modi’s remarks. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the Prime Minister appeared unprepared to secure India’s energy needs even three months into the US-Iran conflict. He accused the government of shifting the burden onto ordinary citizens rather than implementing contingency measures to shield the economy.