Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued seven key economic appeals to Indian citizens under the headline “Nation First, Duty Above Comfort”.
The advisory aims to strengthen economic resilience, protect foreign exchange reserves, and counter rising global fuel and commodity prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The seven instructions for citizens and companies include:
Prioritise Work From Home (WFH): Revive Covid-era remote work, online meetings, and virtual conferences wherever feasible to slash daily travel costs and national energy consumption.
Avoid Gold Purchases for One Year: Refrain from buying physical gold or jewellery. India imports over 90% of its gold, creating a massive drain on foreign exchange reserves. Reduce Petrol and Diesel Consumption: Conserve fuel by using public transport, metro rail networks, carpooling, or switching to electric vehicles (EVs).
Cut Down on Cooking Oil: Reduce household consumption of edible oils by 10%. This simultaneously lowers India’s massive import bill and promotes personal health. Move Towards Natural Farming: Farmers are urged to reduce chemical fertiliser use by 50% to decrease national import dependency and shield the economy from surging global urea prices.
Embrace Swadeshi (“Vocal for Local”): Buy products made in India over foreign-branded luxury goods for everyday items like shoes, bags, and electronics.
Avoid Foreign Travel for One Year: Postpone overseas vacations, international destination weddings, and non-
essential travel to keep leisure spending within domestic tourism markets.