PM Modi urges lower foreign travel, less gold buying to save forex amid West Asia conflict

Amid growing concerns over the economic fallout of the escalating West Asia conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to adopt measures including reviving work-from-home practices, reducing unnecessary foreign travel and avoiding non-essential gold purchases to help protect India’s economy and foreign exchange reserves.

Addressing a rally in Telangana, PM Modi said people must place the country above all else during the global crisis and “take resolutions” to overcome emerging challenges.

The prime minister said patriotism was not limited to sacrificing one’s life for the country, but also meant living responsibly and fulfilling duties toward the nation during difficult periods.

He urged people to reduce petrol and diesel consumption through practical lifestyle changes, including using metro systems and public transport wherever possible, opting for car-pooling and preferring railways for transportation of goods.

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Modi also encouraged wider use of electric vehicles to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Invoking lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, the prime minister suggested reviving some efficiency measures adopted during that period, including work-from-home arrangements, online conferences and virtual meetings wherever feasible.

In a bid to reduce pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves, Modi appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacations and destination weddings abroad.

He instead encouraged people to choose domestic tourism and celebrate important occasions within India.

The prime minister also requested families to avoid non-essential gold purchases for one year, arguing that excessive imports place additional stress on foreign exchange outflows.

Modi further pushed for greater adoption of Made-in-India products, asking citizens to prioritise locally manufactured goods including everyday items such as shoes, bags and accessories.

He also appealed to families to reduce edible oil consumption, saying it would benefit both personal health and the country’s economic health by lowering import dependence.

Push for natural farming and reduced fertiliser dependence

Addressing the agricultural sector, Modi urged farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50 per cent and gradually shift toward natural farming methods.

He said reducing fertiliser dependence would help protect soil health while also lowering the country’s import burden.

The prime minister additionally promoted the use of solar-powered irrigation pumps instead of diesel-operated systems in agriculture as part of broader energy-saving efforts.

Alongside the economic message, Modi also targeted political opponents during the rally, claiming that people in Telangana were seeking political change.

Referring to the BJP’s political rise elsewhere, he said, “People of West Bengal defeated the dictatorial model,” while asserting that he could see similar enthusiasm among people in Telangana.

Recalling Telangana’s historical contribution to the BJP, Modi noted that the state had elected one of the party’s earliest MPs at a time when the BJP had only two Members of Parliament nationally.