'Don't buy gold, skip foreign trips & weddings abroad': PM's Swadeshi push after 7.8% GDP growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Indians after the country recorded 7.8% economic growth in the first quarter of FY27, while using the occasion to renew his call for self-reliance and greater use of Indian products.

In a video message on Instagram, Modi said the latest growth figure reflected the collective effort and determination of Indians despite a difficult global environment.

"Heartiest congratulations to my fellow citizens. A growth rate of 7.8%—the nation is filled with joy. I congratulate the people of this country for their resolve and their industrious spirit; this reflects our collective strength. The world is mired in conflict; news of war is coming from all directions, and the globe is beset by crises. Supply chains are severely disrupted. Since the COVID era of 2020, stability has been elusive everywhere. Yet, India continues to progress rapidly.

Meanwhile, within the country, there are those mired in the abyss of pessimism, echoing falsehoods and spreading despair. Rising above all this and cutting through these obstacles, the nation has achieved a growth rate of 7.8%. We must maintain this momentum. We must keep moving forward, and for that, becoming Atmanirbhar Bharat is essential..." PM Modi said in a post on Instagram.

He pointed to conflicts, economic uncertainty and disruptions to global supply chains, saying India had continued to move ahead despite these challenges.

'Swadeshi' and 'Vocal for Local' push

Modi also called on people to follow the principles of 'Swadeshi' and 'Vocal for Local'. As part of this appeal, he asked Indians to reconsider spending on foreign leisure trips, overseas weddings and gold purchases unless necessary.

"We must embrace the mantra of 'Swadeshi' and 'Vocal for Local.' We should avoid traveling abroad merely for leisure or hosting weddings in foreign lands; instead, we should live by the mantra of 'Weddings in India.' We should also refrain from buying gold unless absolutely necessary. The more we emphasise 'Swadeshi' and self-reliance, the more confident I am that by the time we mark 100 years of independence, we will hand over a 'Viksit Bharat' to our youth.

Through our hard work today, we will surely realize the dreams of our younger generation. Let us spare no effort in our endeavours. Our policies are sound, and our intentions are pure. The combined strength of 1.4 billion Indians is uniting to take the nation to new heights. Let us celebrate, make a firm resolve, and march forward together to turn that resolve into reality," he said.

India's GDP grows 7.8% in Q1 FY27

Official data released on Monday showed that India's GDP expanded 7.8% in the June quarter, beating several market expectations. Nominal GDP growth was recorded at 10.3%.

Gross Value Added (GVA) increased 8.2% during the quarter, compared with 8.7% in the March quarter.

Manufacturing growth accelerated to 9.2%, while agriculture expanded 3.6%. Financial, real estate and IT services recorded particularly strong growth of 12.1%, compared with 8.8% a year earlier.