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Narendra Modi has once again asked Indians to not travel abroad “for leisure” and avoid buying gold even as his government said the country recorded economic growth despite global conflicts.

The Indian prime minister urged citizens to push for self-reliance and avoid hosting overseas weddings in a video message.

“We must embrace the mantra of ‘swadeshi’ (indigenous) and ‘vocal for local’. We should avoid travelling abroad for leisure or hosting destination weddings. We should live by the mantra of ‘wed in India’,” he said in the video recorded at a plush venue in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the central Asian country.

However, Mr Modi has been widely criticised for making the plea while he was himself abroad for a summit. The Indian leader left for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic on Saturday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday, 31 Aug 2026 (AP)

“Did anyone ask him where did he make this videos from? The interiors don’t point to India. So was he giving us a message not to do foreign travel from some foreign location? (sic)” said one user on X.

Mr Modi said India’s latest quarterly economic report had shown a 7.8 per cent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) – a figure disputed by several economic experts in the country – and urged Indians to maintain the upward trajectory.

“We should also not buy gold unless it is necessary,” he said.

“The more emphasis on ‘swadeshi’ and self-reliance, makes me more confident that by the time we mark 100 years of independence, we will hand over a ‘viksit Bharat’ (developed India) to our youth,” Mr Modi said.

His plea comes at a time Indian authorities have raised financial concerns about the amount of foreign exchange India spends on imported gold while the prices have surged due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

India has relied majorly on overseas supplies to meet its gold demand and bullion, as a result, is one of the country’s biggest import items after crude oil.

With a major festive season looming ahead, India could face a trade deficit on top of export of foreign currency due to purchase of gold to meet domestic requirements. This could add to the strain on rupee as well, experts have feared.

An employee displays a gold necklace at a jewellery store in Amritsar on 12 May 2026 (AFP/Getty)

Mr Modi made a similar appeal in May when the conflict between Iran and the US was showing no signs of abating and causing economic whiplash.

He asked Indians to avoid gold purchases for a year, postpone travel to foreign nations and conserve fuel by working from home whenever possible, to protect India from surging crude oil prices.

However, he continued to travel abroad for several official visits. Earlier this year, he visited the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy in May.

He also travelled to France for the G7 leaders’ summit, followed by a visit to Slovakia. In June, he travelled to Seychelles and in July, he travelled to Australia and New Zealand.