India tells citizens to shun gold, cut fuel use amid energy crisis

"Mr Modi on Sunday called for a return to work-from-home arrangements and online meetings, measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also urged people to use public transport, and carpool wherever possible. "In the current situation, we must place great emphasis on saving foreign exchange," Mr Modi said. Mr Modi asked citizens to cut non-essential travel, calling for collective restraint to help protect India's economy during the deepening energy crisis."

"He urged people to avoid buying gold, which India spends heavily on during weddings. He has pushed for the adoption of electric vehicles and asked farmers to halve their use of chemical fertilisers and for families to reduce cooking oil consumption, describing that move as both healthy and patriotic. The appeal links personal consumption choices to national economic resilience during rising energy costs."

"Overall oil imports to Asia, which take 85 per cent of Gulf crude shipments, fell sharply in April following nearly two months of disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Governments across South Asia have been spending billions of dollars on subsidies and import duty waivers in an attempt to shield consumers from the worst of the price rises. The economies of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are considered the most vulnerable."

"Pakistan is reportedly paying about $30 million above pre-war market rates to secure liquefied natural gas supplies after its supply was cut off from Qatar. Analysts say the vulnerability of these nations is driven in part by their heavy reliance on state-sub"

The prime minister urged India’s population to return to work-from-home and online meetings, avoid travel, and use public transport and carpooling. He emphasized saving foreign exchange during a deepening energy crisis driven by the Iran War and soaring energy costs. He called for collective restraint to protect the economy and asked people to avoid buying gold, which is heavily spent on during weddings. He also said there was no proposal to raise diesel and gasoline pump prices. He promoted electric vehicles, asked farmers to halve chemical fertilizer use, and urged families to reduce cooking oil consumption, describing these steps as healthy and patriotic. Across South Asia, governments are using subsidies and import duty waivers, with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka facing higher vulnerability.

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