New Delhi, May 11, 2026 — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to reduce oil consumption, conserve fuel and revive work-from-home practices in an effort to protect the country’s foreign exchange reserves amid growing global uncertainty.
Addressing a public gathering on Sunday, Modi said India should once again adopt remote working and online meetings, similar to measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic, to reduce fuel usage and transportation costs.
“We must now place great importance on protecting our foreign exchange reserves,” Modi said, encouraging people to use public transportation systems such as metro rail services and carpooling whenever possible.
The Indian premier also appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary gold purchases for the next year and postpone foreign travel and overseas wedding ceremonies. According to him, such measures would help preserve the country’s foreign currency reserves.
Indians traditionally buy large amounts of gold during wedding seasons, making the country one of the world’s largest gold consumers.
Modi further called on people to reduce edible oil consumption, describing it as both a health and economic issue.
“If people consume less oil, they will remain healthier and the country’s foreign exchange reserves will also be protected,” he said, calling the effort an act of patriotism.
He also urged farmers to cut fertilizer use by half as part of broader resource-saving measures.
India is currently the world’s third-largest oil importer. Although global oil supplies have been affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, India has not yet increased domestic fuel prices.
According to Reuters, the Indian government is increasingly focusing on economic stability and reserve protection amid global market volatility.
