Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to embrace voluntary austerity to shield the economy from the fallout of the Iran war, but ordinary Indians say they are already at their limit.

At a roadside eatery outside Delhi, Ramesh Verma has stopped checking cooking gas prices daily. The commercial gas cylinder has jumped from 2,078 to 3,071 rupees ($21.7 to $32.1) in three months — a nearly 48% increase eroding his business margins.

Speaking at a rally in Secunderabad, Modi urged Indians to cut fuel consumption, work from home, postpone foreign travel, and avoid gold purchases, framing it as patriotic duty. Critics noted the appeal came only after a bruising state election cycle.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called it an admission of failure, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of losing control over the economy.

State-run oil distributors are losing approximately $105 million daily as they absorb rising costs due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, according to government data. LPG prices have climbed sharply for consumers and businesses.

Economist Lekha Chakraborty warns that rising energy costs transmit into retail prices, compress household consumption, and disproportionately affect lower-income groups.

Ordinary citizens like auto-rickshaw driver Murugesan Kumar and homemaker Sunita Deshpande report already cutting expenses. Verma says: "I don't need the government to teach me austerity. People like us have lived carefully our whole lives. The fear is that life is about to become even harder."

Source: www.dw.com