
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered a nationwide austerity wave by drastically slashing his own official convoy. Leading by example, the PM arrived at a recent cabinet meeting in just two cars, directing the SPG to reduce vehicle counts without breaching mandatory security protocols. This "Modi Mantra" of Bachat (savings) is now sweeping through BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with CM Yogi Adityanath ordering a 50% fleet cut. While the opposition remains skeptical, the shift toward EVs and public transport by leaders like Kapil Mishra signals a wartime-style economic mobilisation amid rising fuel prices and global uncertainty.