'Truce Is Still Far Away': Ashwini Vaishnaw Backs PM Modi’s WFH Appeal Amid West Asia Crisis

Last Updated:May 11, 2026, 12:39 IST

The Union Minister also urged people and businesses to respond to the Prime Minister’s appeal and contribute in every possible way within their own capacities and enterprises.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to revive work-from-home and virtual meetings in view of the West Asia oil crisis and rising fuel prices, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday stressed the need to conserve foreign exchange by cutting expenditure on imports such as diesel and petrol.

Speaking in Delhi, Vaishnaw said the country should focus on reducing expenses that have implications for foreign exchange reserves. “Our foreign exchanges can be conserved, for example, our expenditure on diesel, petrol, any expenditure which can have implications on foreign exchange, we should try and conserve," he said.

He appealed to people to respond to the Prime Minister’s call by identifying ways to conserve foreign exchange in their personal and professional lives. “We, as citizens, as our Prime Minister has asked all of us, we can reduce our expenditure on everything that requires foreign exchange to be spent… Simultaneously, we must also earn more and more foreign exchange. Both things have to go in parallel," he said.

The Union Minister also urged people and businesses to respond to the Prime Minister’s appeal and contribute in every possible way within their own capacities and enterprises.

The US-Iran conflict has led to a sharp rise in global petrol and diesel prices, increasing pressure on household expenses and the broader economy. Against this backdrop, PM Modi said reviving work-from-home, virtual meetings and online conferences could help cut unnecessary travel and reduce foreign exchange spending on costly fuel imports.

PM Modi recalled how India had adapted to remote working and virtual systems during the Covid-19 pandemic and said similar practices could once again help ease economic pressure. Analysts said the appeal was among the strongest pushes yet for hybrid and work-from-home models since offices resumed normal operations after the pandemic.

The message resonated strongly in Bengaluru, where lakhs of IT professionals spend hours navigating traffic every day, consuming fuel, time and money even before beginning work.

News india 'Truce Is Still Far Away': Ashwini Vaishnaw Backs PM Modi’s WFH Appeal Amid West Asia Crisis

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