New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to adopt sweeping changes in lifestyle and consumption as part of a national effort to conserve foreign exchange and mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the global energy crisis. These include cutting fuel use, giving priority to public transport and postponing foreign travel etc. Addressing a public event in Secunderabad, PM Modi said rising global energy prices and supply chain disruptions require ‘collective restraint’ and a ‘duty-first’ approach from citizens.“But friends, when the supply chain continues to be in crisis, no matter what measures we take, the difficulties are only increasing. Therefore, now we have to fight unitedly keeping the country and Mother India first. We must remember that patriotism does not just mean dying for the country. To live for the country and perform one’s duties towards the country is also patriotism.” Here are nine suggestions given by PM Modi:

Use petrol and diesel sparingly

PM Modi stressed the need to reduce dependence on imported energy and called for immediate moderation in fuel consumption.He said, “In this time of global crisis, we have to take a resolution keeping the duty paramount and fulfill it with full dedication. A big resolution is to minimize the use of petrol and diesel. We have to curb the use of petrol and diesel.”

travel by metro

PM Modi urged citizens in urban areas to give priority to mass public transport systems like metro networks to reduce fuel usage. He encouraged behavioral change towards shared and efficient mobility options in cities with metro connectivity. He said, “In cities with metro lines, we should decide to travel by metro only.”

carpooling

PM Modi also suggested carpooling as a practical way to reduce fuel consumption when a personal vehicle is necessary.He emphasized that shared travel can significantly reduce the pressure on fuel demand. “If we have to use a car, we should try to carpool,” PM Modi urged.

use electric vehicles

Highlighting clean mobility options, PM Modi urged citizens who have electric vehicles to make maximum use of them.He said EV adoption should be encouraged as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. “People who own electric vehicles should try to use them as much as possible,” PM Modi requested.

work from home

Recalling pandemic-era practices, PM Modi urged institutions and citizens to revive work-from-home arrangements where possible.He said the remote working system helps in reducing travel, fuel consumption and overall economic pressure. “During the Corona period, we developed many systems of working from home, online meetings and video conferencing and we also got addicted to them. Today, the need of the hour is such that if we start these systems again, it will be in the interest of the country. We must re-prioritize work from home, online conferences and virtual meetings,” he said.

online meetings

PM Modi also promoted the use of online meetings and digital coordination tools to reduce physical travel.He said such systems, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, remain relevant even in the current global crisis.

video conference

PM Modi stressed the continued importance of video conferencing for official and business communications.He said digital platforms can help maintain productivity while reducing transportation and fuel requirements.

foreign exchange savings

Linking domestic consumption to national economic stability, PM Modi urged citizens to reduce imports and conserve foreign exchange.“We should also focus on saving foreign exchange as petrol and diesel have become very expensive globally… He said, “It is our responsibility to save the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel.” PM Modi made a direct appeal to limit discretionary spending on gold, saying that this puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves.“Gold purchasing is another area where foreign exchange is used extensively. In national interest, we should resolve not to buy gold for a year,” he said. He described edible oils and fertilizers as key sectors where lower consumption can strengthen the economy.PM Modi urged, “If every household reduces the use of edible oil, it is a huge contribution to patriotism.”

Postpone foreign travel

PM Modi urged citizens, especially the middle class, to postpone tourism and non-essential foreign travel, including foreign weddings.He said such travel patterns put additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves at a time of global uncertainty.“There is a growing culture among the middle class of having foreign weddings, traveling abroad and spending holidays abroad. We have to decide that in this time of crisis, we should postpone foreign travel for at least a year.” The US-Iran war has already hit India due to increased oil prices, limited arrival of raw materials and volatility in global energy markets as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping routes.The Strait of Hormuz is an important sea route through which a significant portion of India’s crude oil imports flow. It remains a major pressure point in the conflict, with disruptions driving up freight costs, insurance premiums and global benchmark crude oil prices.