14 May,2026 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka. FILE PIC
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity, fuel conservation and efficient resource use amid global uncertainties, industrialist Harsh Goenka has directed the implementation of strict cost-saving and sustainability measures across the RPG Group.
In an internal communication addressed to employees and later shared on social media platform X, Goenka said corporate India must demonstrate leadership by aligning with national priorities.
The RPG Group outlined five major initiatives as part of the directive. Employees who can perform their duties remotely will be encouraged to work from home in line with the group's existing hybrid work policy. The company said it already has significant adoption of remote working practices.
The group has also decided to strictly optimise travel, with foreign travel to be curtailed to the absolute minimum and domestic air travel significantly reduced. Intercity conferences and meetings will also be minimised to avoid non-essential travel.
As part of its sustainability push, RPG said future company-owned or site-leased vehicles will prioritise electric and hybrid models, while pending transitions to such vehicles will be accelerated.
The communication further directed that internal reviews, interviews and routine meetings should be conducted virtually as far as possible. Employees have also been encouraged to opt for carpooling or public transport systems such as railways, metro, and buses wherever feasible.
According to the memo, the measures are aimed at supporting the national agenda while strengthening the group's culture of responsibility, agility, and cost-consciousness. Goenka also urged leaders across businesses to reinforce these directives within their respective teams to ensure disciplined implementation.
The move comes amid growing responses from India Inc following the PM's recent appeal to revive several Covid-era practices, including wider adoption of work-from-home arrangements, reduction in non-essential travel, and conservation of foreign exchange, particularly against the backdrop of the evolving West Asia situation impacting fuel and resources.
In his post on X, Goenka wrote, "We in RPG have responded to our PM's call with austerity and responsible resource allocations. I hope other corporates will follow suit."
No proposal is currently being considered to mandate work-from-home arrangements for the IT sector, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for reduced fuel usage to tackle the fuel price surge, government sources clarified.
The IT industry has largely adopted hybrid work models since the pandemic, and hence, no formal directive is being considered, an NDTV Profit report cited the sources as saying.
Further, policy decisions related to mandatory remote working fall under the purview of the Labour Ministry, they said, adding that "nothing is in the works currently".
PM Modi had urged citizens to conserve fuel, revive work-from-home practices, limit non-essential purchases and avoid overseas vacations in order to help India navigate economic challenges arising from the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Highlighting India's dependence on imported fuel, PM Modi stressed that reducing fuel consumption would help save valuable foreign exchange reserves at a time when global energy prices were rising sharply.
PM Modi appealed to citizens to avoid destination weddings and overseas holidays, while encouraging domestic tourism and celebrations within the country.
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said that if the Middle East conflict continues, India may be forced to raise petrol and diesel prices due to the soaring cost of crude oil in the global market.
The RBI Governor highlighted that rising energy prices due to the Iran war are testing India's flexible inflation targeting, necessitating potential policy intervention by the Reserve Bank.
The central bank's next monetary policy meeting is slated for June 5, when it will take a call on key interest rates, which it has left untouched to promote economic growth.
The Governor indicated that raising retail fuel prices is "a matter of time" if the West Asia crisis persists, which in turn would lead to an increase in transportation costs and inflation.
A report from Crisil Ratings said that Brent crude is expected to average $90âÂÂ95 per barrel in FY27, roughly 32 per cent higher yearâÂÂonâÂÂyear.
(With IANS inputs)
