New Delhi, May 13 -- In his recent public addresses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Indians to reduce the use of imported oils-both crude and edible-as part of broader austerity measures aimed at conserving foreign exchange. The appeal comes amid a widening current account deficit (CAD) and a weakening rupee.

But what does the conflict in West Asia, a key hub for crude oil and natural gas production, have to do with cooking oil? The answer lies in interconnected commodity markets and India's heavy dependence on imported edible oils. Mint explains:

PM Modi urged households to cut cooking oil consumption by about 10%, arguing it would benefit both public health and the national economy. India imports nearly 60% of its edible oil r...