Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday chaired a meeting of the Informal Empowered Group of Ministers (IGoM) set up to keep track of the situation in West Asia. The discussion focused on assessing the ongoing developments in the region and reviewing associated issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in a collective drive aimed at strengthening India’s economic resilience amid growing global tensions. Highlighting disruptions in global supply chains and rising costs due to international conflicts, he described the situation as not just a policy challenge but a test of national resolve.

He emphasized that patriotism extends beyond sacrifices at the borders, stating that in the present times it also means living responsibly and contributing to the nation through everyday actions. The Prime Minister outlined measures for “economic self-defence,” encouraging people to adopt fuel-saving habits such as using public transport, metro systems, carpooling, railways for freight movement, and increasing the use of electric vehicles. He also suggested relying more on digital infrastructure to reduce energy use and costs, as was effectively done during the COVID-19 period.

Calling citizens “guardians of the rupee,” he urged them to limit unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacations, and weddings abroad, and instead promote domestic tourism and local celebrations. He also advised avoiding non-essential gold purchases for a year to help reduce foreign exchange outflow.

He further promoted the use of domestically made products in daily life and encouraged reduced consumption of edible oil for both economic and health benefits. Addressing farmers, he advocated for a shift toward natural farming and a 50 percent reduction in chemical use to support sustainability and economic independence. The Prime Minister said India’s strength lies in the collective efforts of its people, and that the country’s future growth depends on everyday decisions made by citizens in all aspects of life.