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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday termed a media report "totally false" that suggested that the government is considering imposing a tax, cess or surcharge on foreign travel. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "This is totally false. Not an iota of truth in this. There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel. We remain committed to improving 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Living' for our people."

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Context of PM's Recent Appeal

A news report claimed that a proposal to impose a cess, tax or surcharge on foreign travel was under discussion at the highest levels of the government. The report came days after the Prime Minister made an appeal to countrymen in Secunderabad, urging them to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases.

He stressed the need to reduce dependence on imports and said every household should cut down on edible oil consumption and move towards natural farming to help save foreign currency and protect the environment.

Highlighting the burden of fertiliser imports, the Prime Minister said India spends a significant amount of foreign exchange on importing chemical fertilisers and urged farmers to reduce their usage.

To combat the volatility of fuel prices, PM Modi urged a shift in how India moves. He urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for car-pooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible. (ANI)