India, May 11 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for a series of austerity measures, urging citizens to cut petrol and diesel consumption, postpone foreign travel and temporarily pause gold purchases amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Speaking in Hyderabad, where he inaugurated multiple projects, Modi described the appeal as a national duty at a time when India imports more than 88% of the crude oil it processes, with global supply chains also under pressure due to the conflict.

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"In this time of global crisis, we have to make a resolution keeping duty paramount and fulfil it with complete dedication," Modi said. "A big resolution...