India’s population of 1.4 billion is a major market for American consumer goods, often purchased from US online retailer Amazon.com.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation and asked citizens to stop using foreign-made products, promoting Swadeshi goods. He asked the public to use local ones, pushing for a self-reliant campaign when trade ties with the United States have soured.
After US President Donald Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on imported Indian goods, Modi has been urging use of “Swadeshi”, or made-in-India goods. His supporters have started campaigns to boycott American brands including McDonald’s, Pepsi and Apple, which are hugely popular in India.
“A lot of products we use daily are foreign made, we just don’t know, we will have to get rid of them,” Modi said in an address to the nation ahead of Monday’s implementation of widespread consumer tax cuts. “We should buy products that are made in India,” he added, without naming any country.
The way the country’s independence got strengthened by the Swadeshi movement, similarly, India’s prosperity will be empowered by the mantra of ‘swadeshi’, he said.
India’s population of 1.4 billion is a major market for American consumer goods, often purchased from US online retailer Amazon.com. Over the years, the reach of US brands has expanded deep into smaller towns.
Modi also asked shopkeepers to focus on retailing made-in-India products, arguing that this will boost the country’s economic growth. In recent weeks, many companies have increased the promotion of local goods.
PM Modi Hails GST Reforms as ‘Bachat Utsav’ Starting on Navratri
As tomorrow (Sep 22, 2025), India will have its Next Generation GST Reforms launched, Modi claimed it as “GST Bachat Utsav” as it is going to begin from the first day of Navratri.
“On the first day of Navratri, the country is going to take an important and big step for Atmanirbhar Bharat. With the sunrise tomorrow, the next generation GST reforms will come into effect. A ‘GST bachat utsav’ will begin tomorrow.”
“You will be able to buy things you like more easily. The poor, middle class, youths, farmers, women, traders and shopkeepers will benefit from this,” said PM Modi.
Continuing with his words, he congratulated the nation for this, and said, In this season of festivals, everyone’s happiness will increase. “These reforms will accelerate India’s growth story, increase ease of doing business and attract more investors,” said the Prime Minister.
He said GST realised the ‘one nation-one tax’ dream. Modi highlighted how the web of taxes and tolls had created hardships for businesses and consumers.
Citing income tax exemption on earnings up to Rs 12 lakh and GST reforms, he said it is a “double bonanza” for the poor, neo-middle class, and middle class. He also said the GST move would benefit MSMEs big time.
Prime Minister Modi urged the people of the country to take pride in selling and buying indigenous goods.
