PM Modi Urges Indians To ‘Wed In India’, Avoid Unnecessary Gold Purchases Amid 7.8% GDP growth
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has renewed his call for Indians to embrace the government’s “Vocal for Local” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” push, urging people to prefer weddings in India, limit overseas travel and avoid unnecessary gold purchases.
In an Instagram video posted while he is in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Modi highlighted India’s stronger-than-expected 7.8% GDP growth in the April-June quarter of 2026-27.
The Prime Minister said the growth came despite global challenges, including wars, supply-chain disruptions and continuing economic uncertainty following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“7.8% growth. Strong numbers. Even stronger confidence,” Modi wrote in the caption accompanying the nearly three-minute video.
Modi targets ‘echo of lies’
During the video, Modi said India was progressing rapidly despite a difficult global environment, while some people were spreading “jhooth ki goonj” or an “echo of lies” and creating an atmosphere of despair.
The remark is being viewed as an indirect reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s youth-focused “Chhatron Ki Goonj” campaign.
The latest GDP figures showed that India’s economy expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of the current financial year, exceeding the Reserve Bank of India’s earlier estimate of 7%.
Manufacturing, services and investment activity were among the factors supporting the stronger growth.
‘Wed in India’, avoid unnecessary gold purchases
Modi also used the video to reiterate his appeal for greater economic self-reliance.
Calling for Indians to follow the principles of “Vocal for Local” and “Wed in India”, he urged citizens to choose domestic destinations for weddings and reduce unnecessary overseas travel.
He also appealed to people not to purchase gold unless there was a genuine need.
The Prime Minister had made a similar appeal earlier this year amid disruptions in the global economy and rising fuel prices. Reducing foreign travel and gold imports, he had argued, could help conserve foreign exchange and reduce pressure on the country’s import bill.
“We have to become self-reliant and follow the mantra of Vocal for Local and Wed in India. If there is no need, one should not even buy gold,” Modi said.
He added that greater emphasis on swadeshi and self-reliance would contribute towards the goal of building a developed India by the time the country completes 100 years of independence.
GDP growth amid global uncertainty
Modi’s latest message came a day after he described the 7.8% quarterly GDP expansion as a “herculean feat”.
He said India’s economic performance was particularly significant given the wars, disrupted supply chains and instability affecting the global economy.
The video also marks another attempt by the Prime Minister to connect directly with younger audiences through social media, following youth outreach efforts in recent months.