Government sources on Wednesday clarified that there is currently no proposal under consideration to mandate work-from-home arrangements for the IT sector, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for prudent fuel usage amid elevated global energy prices and geopolitical tensions.
According to sources, no formal directive is being planned at this stage, with officials noting that much of the IT industry has already adopted hybrid work models since the pandemic.
Sources further said that any policy decision related to mandatory remote working would fall under the purview of the Labour Ministry, adding that “nothing is in the works currently.”
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Government sources also clarified that no curbs are being planned on electronics imports despite the Centre's broader push for austerity and prudent consumption amid rising global energy costs.
Officials said electronics imports continue to play a critical role in productive sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, exports and digital infrastructure expansion.
Sources added that rising global memory chip prices could, in fact, push up the value of electronics imports in the near term, while AI servers remain essential for India's ongoing data centre buildout and digital infrastructure push.
According to government data cited by sources, India's electronics imports stood at $116.17 billion in FY26.
The clarification comes as markets and corporate India closely watch whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public appeal for restraint could translate into operational measures for specific industries.
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Earlier, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to advise IT and IT-enabled services companies to permit employees to work remotely wherever operationally feasible. In a letter addressed to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the union said such a move would align with the Prime Minister's call to conserve fuel and minimise unnecessary travel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking at an event in Telangana, Modi urged citizens to use imported petroleum products judiciously to reduce pressure on India's foreign exchange reserves and cushion the economy from surging global oil prices. The Prime Minister called for the revival of several Covid-era practices, including work-from-home arrangements, virtual meetings and online conferences, while also encouraging the use of public transport, car-pooling, electric vehicles and rail freight.
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