Modi urges Indians to slash oil consumption amid soaring global energy prices

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to make significant sacrifices to reduce oil consumption, including working from home, cutting foreign travel, and halting gold purchases for one year. India is the world's second-largest gold buyer, spending $72 billion annually on gold, making the proposal an attempt to reshape consumption patterns across 1.4 billion people. The move reflects India's vulnerability to volatile global energy markets and oil price shocks that strain its import-dependent economy. Modi's appeal tests whether government messaging can shift deeply embedded cultural and economic practices in one of the world's largest consumer markets.