Prime MinisterNarendra Modirecently 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 inGujarat'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 inWest 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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
