WFH to no gold: PM Modi's economic self-defence advice amid global oil shock

Prime Minister Modi urged people and businesses to change daily habits to conserve foreign exchange amid global disruptions.

In Short

• At a Hyderabad rally, he framed lifestyle changes as economic self-defence
• Citizens were urged to postpone overseas holidays, weddings abroad and other trips
• He advocated metros, shared vehicles, electric mobility and rail freight

Amid global supply chain disruptions and soaring oil prices triggered by the war in West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a tactical manual for “economic self-defence”, urging citizens to recalibrate their lifestyles to mitigate the uncertainties.

Speaking at a rally in Hyderabad, he asked people to revive work-from-home practices, cut fuel consumption, and even avoid buying gold for weddings for one year to help the country conserve foreign exchange.

"Patriotism is not only about the willingness to sacrifice one's life on the border. In these times, it is about living responsibly and fulfilling our duties to the nation in our daily lives," he said.

PM'S ADVICES TO FIGHT OIL CRISIS

1. Return to remote working methods adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We got into work-from-home, virtual meetings, video conferencing, and many other methods during Covid-19. We got habituated to them. The need of the hour is to resume those methods,” the Prime Minister said.
2. Reduce fuel consumption to save foreign exchange and ease economic pressure. “It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel is also saved by conserving fuel,” he added.
3. Avoid buying gold, especially for weddings, in order to conserve foreign exchange reserves. “I would appeal to people not to buy gold for weddings for one year,” he said, adding, “We have to save foreign exchange by any means.”
4. Postpone overseas vacations, destination weddings, and non-essential foreign trips. Instead of travelling abroad, spend time within India and explore local destinations.
5. Use metro services and public transport wherever available, and vehicle-sharing instead of using separate private cars.
6. Adopt electric vehicles as a way to reduce dependence on imported fuel, shift cargo movement to railways to cut fuel consumption.
7. Go for greater consumption of locally manufactured goods to strengthen the country’s economic self-reliance amid global headwinds. 
8. Reduce edible oil consumption for both economic and health benefits. “If every household reduces the use of edible oil, it is a huge contribution to patriotism,” he said.
9. Reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and cut their usage by 50 percent. Adopt natural farming as a way to reduce imports and protect the environment.
10. Put national interest above personal convenience during the crisis.  “That’s why, during a global crisis, keeping the country above all else, we have to take resolutions," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to the public mirrors a broader global trend, with governments across the world urging citizens and businesses to adjust consumption patterns amid rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty.

The UK has urged people to remain calm amid soaring energy costs, focusing on financial support for households reliant on oil-based heating rather than directly calling for lower fuel consumption. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering additional allocations to council-run emergency funds to support vulnerable families.

New Zealand has announced weekly cash payments for nearly 150,000 middle-income families under a fuel relief package aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.

Australia launched the “Every Little Bit Helps” campaign, encouraging voluntary cuts in fuel and energy use. It also halved fuel excise duty for three months, unveiled a national fuel security plan, and advised motorists to “only buy the fuel you need”.

France has expanded its “social leasing” programme, allowing low-income individuals to lease electric vehicles at heavily subsidised rates.

The European Union has accelerated its push towards a renewable energy-driven economy, even as some member states slow the transition. Italy recently deferred its coal phase-out plan by more than a decade, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed extending the use of coal plants and speeding up gas-fired power projects.

In Asia, Japan has allowed less-efficient coal plants back into the electricity market, while South Korea has lifted caps on coal-generated power and delayed its coal phase-out timeline. Thailand and the Philippines have also increased coal-based electricity generation to meet rising demand.

Indonesia has mandated work-from-home on Fridays for public-sector employees, while Myanmar has introduced similar measures for public officials on Wednesdays.

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