PM Modi's Energy Independence Pitch: Why It’s Personal – Explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently issued one of his most direct calls to citizens – not for votes, not for a scheme, but for a change in daily behaviour for the nation. PM Modi, at a public meeting in Gujarat's Vadodara, for the second time in less than 20 hours, appealed for collective national participation to help India navigate rising global energy prices, supply chain disruptions, and mounting pressure on its foreign exchange reserves caused by ongoing conflicts in West Asia.PM Modi’s save energy pitch wasn’t a budget announcement or a policy rollout; it was about a demand-side intervention, with him asking 1.4 billion Indians to act as economic soldiers in a war India is not fighting but is paying for."When 140 crore people take one step

forward, the nation too advances 140 crore steps. Therefore, in the current phase of global crisis, I have a few special requests to my fellow countrymen," he said.

PM Modi made the economic stakes explicit. "We don't have big oil wells. We have to import petrol, diesel and gas," he said, adding, "Since petrol and diesel have become extremely expensive across the world, it is our responsibility to save fuel and thereby save the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel.""I appeal to every citizen of my country to reduce the use of petrol-diesel as much as possible. Use the metro, make greater use of electric buses and public transport, and promote carpooling. Those who have a car should take more people along in one vehicle," he said.

Why PM Modi Made This Appeal

But why did PM Modi appeal so, well, the numbers behind this are unambiguous. India is the world's third-largest crude oil consumer and importer.According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), India's crude oil import dependency stood at approximately 88% in the first half of FY2025, up from 87.6% in the same period the year before, driven by rising domestic demand and stagnant indigenous production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOWKnqpQrII

A Look At India's Crude Oil Expenditure

India's crude oil import expenditure reached $71.3 billion in just the first six months of FY2025, a 12% rise over the same period in FY2024, according to PPAC data.On fuel saving, the Prime Minister was specific. He urged citizens to use metro rail and public transport wherever available and to choose rail over road for goods movement. "If we must use a car, then we should try to carpool. Use Electric Vehicles," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCcadmcPYRc

PM Modi Calls For Reviving Covid-Era Work Efficiency

He called for a revival of COVID-era work efficiency. Online conferences, virtual meetings, and work-from-home arrangements, which demonstrated during the pandemic that they could reduce commuting and fuel consumption without hurting productivity. Prioritise these measures in the national interest, he said."Digital technology has now made so many things easy that technology's assistance will also be very beneficial for us. It is essential that priority be given to virtual meetings and work from home in both government and private offices..." the Prime Minister said.

Save Foreign Exchange

On foreign exchange, PM Modi extended his appeal well beyond fuel. He urged citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacations, and destination weddings abroad for at least a year. "Postpone traveling abroad for at least a year," he said directly, asking families to choose domestic tourism and celebrations within India instead."India spends lakhs of crores of rupees in foreign exchange to import many products from abroad. At the same time, the prices of imported goods are soaring, and global supply chains have also been severely disrupted. Just as every drop fills a pot, every small and big effort matters. We must reduce the use of products that come from abroad and avoid unnecessary dependence on imported goods in our daily lives, and also avoid such personal activities that involve spending foreign exchange..." PM Modi said.

Don't Buy Gold For A Year - PM Modi Says Cut Back

The Prime Minister made an equally striking appeal on gold. India spent an all-time high of $71.98 billion on gold imports in FY2025-26, a 24% rise over the previous year's $58 billion, according to Commerce Ministry data. Modi asked citizens to pause non-essential gold purchases for one year to ease the pressure on India's foreign exchange outflows.He asked families to reduce edible oil consumption, linking it to both national economic health and personal health. The ask has hard data behind it. India spent nearly Rs. 1.61 lakh crore ($18.3 billion) on importing 16 million tonnes of edible oils in 2024-25, a 22% increase over the previous year, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India. India meets more than 57% of its edible oil requirement through imports.He urged citizens to prioritise Made-in-India products for daily-use items including shoes, bags, and accessories — every such purchase, he said, creates domestic employment and reduces forex outflow.