PM Modi calls for remote digital classrooms

• PM Modi urges schools and colleges to shift to online classes
• Move aims to cut fuel demand as crude oil prices exceed $105 per barrel
• States and boards review the proposal to help stabilise the economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made an appeal to educational institutions across India, asking schools and colleges to consider a temporary shift to online classes to help the nation navigate a burgeoning energy crisis and stabilise the economy.

Speaking on Monday, during the inauguration of the Sardardham Hostel complex in Vadodara, the Prime Minister framed the current global instability, triggered by escalating tensions in West Asia and a surge in crude oil prices, as one of the "major crises of this decade."

A call for austerity and innovation

The Prime Minister’s suggestion to return to "Covid-style" online learning is part of a broader austerity push aimed at reducing India’s dependence on fuel imports.

"If the Covid pandemic was the biggest crisis of this century, then the circumstances created by the war in West Asia are one of the major crises of this decade," PM Modi told the gathering. "Just as we together overcame the challenge of Covid, we will surely get through this crisis as well."

The logic behind the move is twofold. First, reducing the daily movement of thousands of school buses and private vehicles would significantly cut petrol and diesel consumption. Second, by lowering fuel demand, the government aims to protect India’s foreign exchange reserves, which are under pressure as global oil prices remain above $105 per barrel.

A wider clampdown: WFH push and gold curbs

The appeal to schools follows a similar recommendation for the corporate sector. The Prime Minister has encouraged companies to revive Work-From-Home (WFH) arrangements and prioritise virtual meetings.

Beyond the digital shift, the Prime Minister’s address included several other “national duty” appeals: a strong push for greater use of metros, electric buses and carpooling; an unusual request for citizens to delay gold purchases, noting that the precious metal puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves; and a renewed call to avoid imported goods to further strengthen the domestic economy.

While some tech-forward educational groups have welcomed the suggestion as a proactive way to use existing digital infrastructure, opposition leaders have raised concerns. Critics argue that a shift to online classes could once again widen the "digital divide" for students in rural areas or those without high-speed internet access.

Regardless, many major school boards and state governments are reportedly reviewing the Prime Minister's suggestion, though no mandatory pan-India order has been issued.