Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday outlined India’s approach to energy security, cultural preservation, youth participation and sustainability during the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat.

Modi projected India as navigating global energy shifts while anchoring itself in heritage and sustainability. Despite West Asian crises impacting fuel, he said India remains confident due to its strengthened global relations and the support of over one crore Indians living in the Gulf.

West Asia conflict, fuel concerns and call for unity

Modi appealed to citizens to unite in the face of challenges arising from the ongoing “fierce war” in West Asia, urging vigilance against rumours. He described the situation as a “challenging time” and stressed collective resolve.

"This is undoubtedly a challenging time. Through today's 'Mann Ki Baat', I once again urge all 140 crore fellow citizens that we must come together as one to overcome this challenge. I appeal to all my fellow citizens to stay vigilant and not fall prey to rumours," he said.

Referring to global instability, Modi said, "The month of March has been eventful at a global level. In the past, the entire world faced numerous problems for a long time due to the COVID. We all expected that after emerging through the COVID crisis, the world would move forward on the path of progress with a fresh start. But conditions of war and conflict continued to emerge in different regions of the world. Currently, a fierce war has been going on for a month in our neighbourhood. Relatives of lakhs of families reside in these countries, and particularly work in the Gulf countries. I am grateful to Gulf countries for providing every kind of assistance to over one crore Indians there."

The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israel strikes on Iran, has escalated as Tehran retaliated, targeting regional allies. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20 per cent of global energy supplies pass — has raised concerns, with limited ship movement reported.

Flagging a developing global petrol and diesel crisis, Modi said, "A crisis is developing around the world regarding petrol and diesel. Our global relations, the support we receive from various countries, and the strengths we have built over the past decade have enabled India to face these challenges resolutely. These are certainly challenging times. Today, through 'Mann Ki Baat,' I will once again urge all my countrymen that we must unite and overcome this challenge."

He also cautioned against politicisation. "All those politicising the issue should not do it. This issue is connected to the interests of 140 crore Indians, and there is no place for self-serving politics. All those spreading rumours are causing great harm to the country. I would also like to appeal to all countrymen to remain vigilant and not be misled by rumours. Trust the constant information provided by the government and take action based on that," he said.

Diplomacy, diaspora and policy response

Modi said India remains engaged globally, having spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iran, France, Israel and Malaysia, as well as US President Donald Trump. Following a call on March 24, he said he “had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia”.

He also held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Prime Minister reiterated gratitude to Gulf nations for supporting Indian citizens during the crisis.

Amid rising crude prices, the Centre has cut excise duty on petrol and diesel. With a reported LPG crunch, the government is accelerating a shift to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) by fast-tracking pipeline infrastructure.

Culture, youth, sports and sustainability initiatives

The Prime Minister highlighted the Gyan Bharatam Survey to document manuscripts nationwide through public participation, including palm-leaf texts, copper plates from Rajasthan, and Tibetan manuscripts from Ladakh. The exercise will continue until mid-June.

On youth engagement, he said MY Bharat is linking young people to nation-building, citing participation of around 12 lakh youth in a Budget quiz, with 1.6 lakh progressing to essays on themes such as farmer welfare, women-led development, clean growth and rural sports.

He referred to India’s T20 World Cup win and Jammu and Kashmir’s first Ranji Trophy title in nearly seven decades, alongside individual performances by Gulveer Singh and Anahat Singh. Around two lakh women took part in the Asmita Athletics League, he added, while urging reduced sugar intake and a 10 per cent cut in cooking oil consumption.

In education, he cited Bengaluru’s Prayog Institute enabling Classes 9–12 students to pursue research. On sustainability, he pointed to 50 lakh water harvesting structures and nearly 70,000 Amrit Sarovars, with examples from Tripura, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. He also noted support for fishermen, expansion of fisheries, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, solar adoption including in the Northeast, and community-led tree plantation and seed preservation efforts in Nagaland.